Saudi Arabia kills protester who refused to make way for megacity
Saudi Arabia kills ‘armed’ protester who refused to be evicted from his land to make way for the Crown Prince’s megacity project Neom
- Abdul-Rahim al-Howeiti was shot dead by security forces in Al-Khuraybah
- He was protesting against Mohammed bin Salman’s megacity project Neom
- Saudi government claimed he had fired shots and thrown Molotov cocktails
Saudi Arabia has admitted it killed a protester who refused to leave his home and make way for the Crown Prince’s megacity project.
Abdul-Rahim al-Howeiti was shot dead by security forces in Al-Khuraybah, near the Saudi border with Jordan, the government confirmed.
Government media claimed al-Howeiti had ‘shot at security forces’ and thrown Molotov cocktails to protect land he regarded as belonging to his Howeitat tribe.
Al-Howeiti was protesting against the construction of Neom, a futuristic planned city backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Protester Abdul-Rahim al-Howeiti (pictured left) was shot dead by security forces in Al-Khuraybah, near Saudi Arabia’s border with Jordan, the government confirmed
The government said Al-Howeiti, whose age is not reported, had ‘shot at security forces while holed up behind sandbags at the top of the building’.
The statement went on: ‘He did not respond to appeals to surrender and as a result of continued shooting and the throwing of Molotov cocktails, security forces neutralised the threat.’
Officials claimed that an arsenal of weapons which included machines guns, pistols and Molotov cocktails were found at the scene.
Al-Howeti was an activist protesting against against the construction of Neom – often styled NEOM – and the forced displacement of his tribe from the area.
Saudi political activist Omar bin Abdulaziz has dubbed him the ‘Martyr of NEOM’ while others took aim at the ‘thugs of Mohammed bin Salman’ for the killing.
Government media claimed al-Howeiti had ‘shot at security forces’ and thrown Molotov cocktails to protect land he regarded as belonging to his Howeitat tribe
Al-Howeiti was protesting against the construction of Neom (pictured in an artist’s impression), a futuristic planned city backed by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman
Neom is a planned city which will stretch across the Tabuk region’s border with Jordan and will function as both a tourist destination and a ‘smart city’.
The project is scheduled to be completed by 2025 and will cost an estimated $500bilion.
Al-Howeiti’s Howeitat tribe have lived in the area for hundreds of years and were mentioned by T.E. Lawrence after he worked with them during World War I.
The tribe has expressed dismay at being forced to relocate from the area where Neom is being constructed, allegedly without any consultation from the Saudi authorities.
The Wall Street Journal reported in 2019 that up to 20,000 people could be forcibly removed from the area to make room for the Crown Prince’s project.
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