I wrote recently about the Kafkaesque rules designed to restrict civil society activity in Bahrain, and I mentioned in passing that numerous Arab countries have similar laws.
Saudi Arabia, as might be expected, is one that keeps a firm grip on civil society organisations (CSOs) though it doesn't have a specific law for this purpose – yet. A law has been promised (or perhaps I should say threatened, because if it ever materialises it will probably be just as restrictive as that in Bahrain).
In the meantime, some CSOs (the sort the authorities approve of) operate under licences, while others exist without licences in a legal limbo, unable to raise funds, organise events or have their own premises to hold meetings. [www.al-bab.com] Read more
