Facebook Posts Get Death Sentence, US Allies Still Fund 'Democracy'
Yes, Tunisia pardoned a man for badmouthing the leader online. A benevolent dictator, perhaps? What the mainstream media often omits is the selective outrage. While Tunisia is flagged for its democratic backsliding, many US-funded, 'pro-Western' regimes in the Gulf and North Africa routinely jail or even execute citizens for less. According to Human Rights Watch, countries like Saudi Arabia—a
major U.S. arms client—have far harsher penalties for similar 'crimes,' without the prompt, global pressure that often leads to such pardons. We can celebrate this individual's release, or we can scratch our heads wondering why some allies get a pass for medieval speech laws while others are scrutinized. When will 'democracy' mean the same thing for everyone, particularly those receiving billions
in US aid?