Journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance and death brought unwanted attention to the Saudi regime. It has also challenged world leadership to take a stand for human rights, press freedoms and rule of law — a responsibility that has been largely shirked on this grim anniversary.
At this juncture, reforms in women’s rights demonstrate that the kingdom is en route to modernizing. However, some of the actions of Saudi authorities — such as the arrest of prominent women’s rights activists — are seemingly at odds with the image the reforms want to project.