JNN 01 Aug 2013 Riyadh : Saudi Prince Khalid Bin Farhan al-Saud has announced his defection from the royal family, referring to his “suffering” under reign of al-Saud and called on other princes to break their silence.

A Saudi opposition political activist says power struggle was one of the main reasons behind Prince Khalid Bin Farhan Al-Saud defection from the ruling royal family in Saudi Arabia.

“With pride, I announce my defection from al-Saudi family in Saudi Arabia,” he wrote in his statement, according to a report from the Tehran-based Al-Alam news channel. “This regime in Saudi Arabia does not stand by God’s rules or even [the country’s] established rules and its policies, decisions and actions are totally based on [the] personal will of its leaders,” he continued.

The ruling royal family is composed of the descendants of Muhammad bin Saud and his brothers, though the ruling faction of the family is primarily led by the descendants of Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman al-Saud.

“All that is said in Saudi Arabia about respecting law and religion rules is factitious, so that they can lie and pretend that the regime obeys Islamic rules,” he said, criticizing the royal family for considering the country its own property and silencing all voices from inside and outside the government that called for any change or reform.

The Saudi prince said everything that the pro-reform opposition said about the country’s political, economical, judiciary, social and security conditions as well as their abuse of religious values was true, the report said. “The situation is even worse than what is said in criticisms.” He called on all those who cared for the future of the country to join him and break their silence.

Mujtahid Bin Hareth Bin Hammaam, nicknamed the “Julian Assange” of Saudi Arabia for revealing information about Saudi royal family, revealed recently that Prince Khalid Bin Farhan has defected from his family and joined the opposition.

Continuing his story in his recent leaks he said, Khalid Bin Farhan was a member of the Al Saud family and three generations of his ancestors had participated in late Saudi king Abdulaziz’s wars, but none of his family members have ever been raised to an official position in the government.

“Problems first emerged when Khalid’s father, Farhan bin Abdulaziz al-Farhan was put under pressure by Prince Salman, preventing him from travelling abroad. The reason behind these pressures was Farhan al-Farhan’s refusal to let Prince Salman interfere in his family business,” @Mujtahidd wrote in his tweeter account.

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia.

“Pressures and limitations disappointed Farhan al-Farhan, and finally these bans led to his complete isolation… but some of his sons and daughters broke their ban and migrated from the country. This made Salman plan for forcing them return and put their father under more pressure,” he wrote.

According to Mujtahidd, the crown prince failed to force Khalid go back to the kingdom but was able to make his sister, who was a dentist, return home. She is since under house arrest up until now.

The Saudi leaker said Prince Salman who found out about Khalid’s intentions about revealing secrets on corruptions of the royal family, tried to bribe him first and then threatened to harm his sister.

Khalid, in return, decided not to wait and continue his campaign, Mujtahidd wrote, adding that Khalid’s statements have turned to a source of serious concern for the Saudi regime.

“They fear that their divisions and problems are exposed but they pretend that they don’t care,” Mujtahidd’s tweet said.

Saudi prince Khaled Farhan Al-Saud, who announced his defection from the ruling royal family in Saudi Arabia, has published an English version of his statement on Twitter. Here is the statement:

 Statement From Prince Khaled Farhan Al-Saud

I declare my defection from the regime and support of Islah Movement led by Dr Saad Al-Fagih

I have had a personal and familial bitter experience with those holding power in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This harsh personal experience at the hand of the ruling regime in the Kingdom made me try the taste of tyranny and appreciate what my countrymen experience and be one of them.

I realised how widespread is oppression, and how extensive is the practice of usurping people’s rights, disregard of the judiciary, manipulation of religion and other forms of inhumane practices.

This sour experience, led me to a list of conclusions that should be made public in order to clear my conscience.

First, I proudly declare my defection from the Saudi ruling family, for their policies, decisions and conduct are never governed by national or people’s interests but by personal whims.

Second, Those holding power in the kingdom do believe that they own the state: Land and people. They insist to run the country with this belief despite political awareness of the people and repeated calls for justice and freedom.

Third, those in power not only rejected all calls for reform put forward by prominent and respectable opposition figures and answered it with oppression and ill treatment, but they equally rejected proposed reform called for by members of the ruling family.

Fourth, the problems facing our country are not temporary and shallow, they are not merely matters of unemployment, low salaries and bad distribution of wealth and services, but are deep seated and real problems to do with widespread corruption, abuse of power and subjugation of the judicial powers by the executive in a way which oppresses the people’s aspirations. Previous experiences have proven that these troubles cannot be remedied except by comprehensive and deep rooted changes.

Fifth, those in power intentionally ignore the deteriorating situation in the country and instead indulge in lavish, squander and pomp to the degree that put national security in real danger.

Sixth, Most of what has been said by the reform and opposition groups about the political, social, economic situations and abuse of religion etc., is correct and objective.

Seventh, through my intimate knowledge of these in power I can assure everyone that they will not respond to advice and that what motivates them is their eagerness to oppress inside the country and to guard their interests outside it.

Therefore, no changes can be achieved except by applying various forms of pressure, be it political, through media campaigns, or through popular interior efforts.

Accordingly, I declare my support of all genuine reform movements eager to secure the interests of our citizens and in particular the Islah movement headed by Dr. Saad Al-Fagih.

I wish that all the silent princes who agree with me to come out in support in readiness to assume their responsibility for appease God and country.

Khalid bin Farhan bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Farhan Al-Saud

Germany

28/7/2013