The line is a feature of the desert cities being built in the area by a group of Western companies.
Saudi authorities have reportedly been given permission to use lethal force to clear land for the construction of Neom, a futuristic eco-city being developed by several Western companies.
Col Rabih Alenezi, a former senior Saudi security official now living in the UK after seeking asylum, told the BBC that officers in the region were “told to kill” in order to Clear villages and towns so that development projects can progress.
He also revealed that a protester who resisted the eviction of locals from the village was shot dead.
Neom is a £400 billion eco-region created by dozens of global companies, several of them British, to diversify Saudi industry.
Its flagship feature is 'The Line', a car-free city 200m wide and 170km long, equivalent to the distance from Bristol to London.
Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously described the area where the future city is proposed to be developed as a “blank canvas”, but so far more than 6,000 people have left their homes due to the early stages of construction.
British human rights group ALQST estimates the figure is much higher.
Satellite images obtained by the BBC show the devastation in the village of Sharma, where many homes, schools and hospitals have been completely destroyed since the Neom project began.
Colonel Alenezi said that before he fled to the UK, he was asked to issue a clearing order for the al-Khuraybah area, which is located 4.5 kilometers south of the “defence line”.
Colonel Rabbi Alenizzi tells us exclusively he should lead mission to clear land #neom “Deadly force” was used, but he said he ducked.
Things still went on without him.One villager – Abdulrahim Al-Huwaiti – was later shot dead pic.twitter.com/eFINiI1nmR
— Merlyn Thomas (@MerlynThomas) May 9, 2024
The villages in the area are mostly occupied by the Huwatat tribe, who have lived in the area for generations.
A clearance order issued in April 2020 claimed that the Huwaitat people were “mainly composed of insurgents” and warned that “anyone who continues to resist (deportation) should be killed”.
One of the tribe's leaders, Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti, was shot dead by Saudi authorities a day after he refused to have his property assessed by a land registration board.
The Saudi national security service issued a statement shortly after, saying that Huweti opened fire on the security forces and they had to retaliate.
In the days that followed, several villagers were arrested for publicly mourning Huvati's death on social media.
Saudi authorities claim that those required to relocate to make way for metro construction have been compensated, but ALQST reports that the figures paid are much lower than those provided.
On the official Neom website, The Line is described as “a cognitive city that stretches 170 kilometers from NEOM’s epic mountains, through inspiring desert valleys, all the way to the beautiful Red Sea.
“A masterpiece of mirrored architecture, 500 meters above sea level but 200 meters wide, saving land. THE LINE redefines the concept of urban development and what cities will look like in the future,” the description continues.
“There will be no roads, cars or emissions, it will use 100% renewable energy and 95% of the land will be naturally protected. Unlike traditional cities, people’s health and well-being will be prioritized over transport and infrastructure.
“The line will eventually accommodate 9 million people and cover an area of just 34 square kilometres. This will mean a reduced infrastructure footprint, creating unprecedented efficiencies in urban functions. The ideal year-round climate will ensure residents can enjoy Surrounded by natural beauty, residents have access to all daily necessities within a 5-minute walk – with end-to-end transportation in just 20 minutes.”
The project is only 2.4 kilometers long and is expected to be completed by 2030.
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#Saudi #troops #39told #kill39 #room #39The #Line39
