Saudi Arabia: Khalid Al-Farhan’s defection


A member of the Al-Saud, Prince Khalid Bin Farhan Bin Abdelaziz Al-Farhan (Al-Saud), announced his defection from the Saudi royal family in late July. The prince, thought to be based in Germany, said in a statement that he declared his defection from the ‘regime’ and his support of the Islah (Reform) movement led by Dr Saad Al-Fagih. He criticised the ruling family for governing according to personal whims rather than national interests, and for believing that they own the state, land and people. He said those in power had rejected all calls for reform put forward by ruling family members as well as by respectable opposition figures. Prince Khalid said Saudi Arabia’s “deep-seated and real problems” were to do with extensive corruption, abuse of power and subjugation of judicial powers by the executive.