A dark cloud hangs over Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Neom project following claims by an exiled colonel that authorities authorized lethal force to clear land for the futuristic megacity. Colonel Rabih Alenezi, who fled to the UK in 2023, told BBC News he received a chilling order in 2020: evict residents, including members of the Huwaitat tribe, from their ancestral lands earmarked for The Line, a central feature of Neom. Alenezi alleges the directive went further, branding the tribe as “rebels” and sanctioning the use of deadly force against those who resisted eviction. Claiming fabricated medical issues, Alenezi says he managed to avoid carrying out the mission.
These claims raise serious concerns about human rights violations during Neom’s development. Activists allege that one villager, Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti, was killed by authorities who claim he fired on them. However, human rights groups strongly contest this narrative. BBC News was unable to independently verify Alenezi’s allegations, and requests for comment from Saudi officials remain unanswered.
Neom’s ambitious vision for a futuristic desert city comes at a heavy price. The Saudi government reports relocating over 6,000 people to facilitate construction. However, human rights groups believe the true figure is significantly higher. Last year, UN human rights experts expressed alarm over the death sentences handed down to three Neom protestors who voiced their objections. These men were reportedly convicted under Saudi Arabia’s broad and controversial terror laws.
The Saudi government appears determined to silence any criticism of its Vision 2030 plans, a national economic diversification strategy heavily reliant on Neom’s success. This determination was tragically underscored by the case of Fatima al-Shawarbi. A Saudi woman who dared to criticize the displacement of villagers for Neom was reportedly sentenced to a staggering 30 years in prison.
Colonel Alenezi’s claims, while unverified, paint a disturbing picture of the human cost associated with Neom’s development. The project raises crucial questions about the methods employed by Saudi authorities and their commitment to respecting human rights. With independent verification lacking and Saudi officials remaining silent, the shadow cast by these allegations demands a thorough and impartial investigation.
