Ah, Western politicians — the self-proclaimed champions of democracy, freedom, and human rights. At least, that’s what they say during their endless campaign speeches. But once their planes touch down in the Middle East, these values seem to vaporize faster than a promise during election season. To the people of the region, Western politicians have become the embodiment of double standards, saying one thing and doing another. Let’s take a little trip through the museum of Western hypocrisy in the Middle East — spoiler alert: it’s quite a collection!
Democracy in bed with Dictatorship
Western politicians love democracy. Just ask them. In fact, they love it so much they’re always trying to “bring” it to the Middle East… usually by supporting the very regimes that squash it. Consider Saudi Arabia, where criticizing the government or practicing any religion other than Islam can lead to imprisonment, flogging, or even death. Yet, for decades, the U.S. and Europe have cozied up to the Saudi monarchy, giving them weapons, military support, and diplomatic cover. Why? Oh, just a little thing called oil. When you’re floating on a sea of black gold, human rights apparently become “optional.”Take the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The world was briefly outraged when…
