2009 Report: Two US Allies are Among Worst Human Rights Abusers on Earth

[SOS]

The 2009 Freedom House report entitled "The Worst of the Worst" has been released.
Among the most brutal, repressive regimes on earth are Equatorial Guinea and Saudi Arabia.
Both nations are accorded the red carpet welcome in Washington.
Both nations have oil deals with American oil companies.

Here are edited excerpts from the 2009 "Worst of the Worst" report:

Equatorial Guinea:

The use of torture in prisons continued to be widespread, and foreign journalists were banned from covering elections.
Equatorial Guinea is considered one of the most corrupt countries in the world, and Obiang continue(s) to amass huge personal profits from the oil windfall.
The 1992 press law authorizes government censorship. All journalists are required to register with the government. There are no effective human rights organizations in the country. Security forces generally act with impunity. Prison conditions, especially in the notorious Black Beach prison, are extremely harsh. The authorities have been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including torture, detention of political opponents, and extrajudicial killings. Constitutional and legal guarantees of equality for women are largely ignored, and violence against women is reportedly widespread.
Equatorial Guinea’s civil liberties rating declined due to an intensification of the environment of fear stemming from the widespread use of torture in prisons.

Saudi Arabia:

The government continued to crack down on activists who called for expanded human and political rights. The al-Saud dynasty controls political life in the kingdom. The royal family forbids the formation of political parties. Corruption is a significant problem, with foreign companies reporting that they often pay bribes to government officials.
The government tightly controls content in domestic media. Government officials have banned journalists who publish articles deemed offensive to the ruling authorities. The regime has blocked access to over 400,000 websites. Religious freedom does not exist in Saudi Arabia. All Saudis are required by law to be Muslims. Academic freedom is restricted, and informers monitor classrooms. Saudis do not have freedom of association. Allegations of torture by police and prison officials are common. Women are not treated as equal members of society, and many laws discriminate against them. Women were not permitted to vote in the elections, they may not legally drive cars and they cannot travel within the country without a male relative.

See the full report here:
http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/specialreports/wow/WoW2009.pdf

And how does the US respond to the most repressive dictators on earth?



http://blogs.villagevoice.com/pressclips/Obiang,%20Rice%20240.jpg

Imagine the outrage if Obiang or King Abdullah suggested closing a golf course!