As a part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 of economic and social reforms, the Saudi government has decided to open movie theatres for the public in early 2018, lifting a 35-year-long ban. The move has been rightly welcomed by rights groups and artists. The crown prince’s statement about ‘returning Saudi Arabia to moderate Islam’ and a number of recent steps including lifting of ban on women driving are being seen as the regime’s attempt to reverse its extremist image that has been built through its regressive policies over the years. But it is unclear as to what the extent of this ‘moderation’ will be. Will the regime also stop the practice of imprisoning and executing dissenters and secular activists? Will the strict Sharia laws also be repealed anytime soon? If the recent decisions are anything to go by, the regime is trying its best to portray a ‘soft image’ of the country before the world. The Saudi government seems to think that such baby steps will go a long way in helping the regime improve its image in the West. However, whether or not these steps will help bring a real change in Saudi Arabia with regard to the status of human rights and freedom of speech is yet to be seen. Given the track record, it is not easy to buy the Saudis’ claims of returning ‘moderation’ to the country until the regime stops using violent means to suppress freedom of speech. Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is in prison for over five years. His apparent crime was to demand secularism, democracy and human rights in the country. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes and continues to languish in jail. The world community has mostly ignored rights violations by the Saudi regime. But the regime’s barbaric transgressions should no longer be taken lightly because it seems the country now itself wants to do away with all that it had long been criticised for. Therefore, this is an opportunity for the rest of the world to take the Kingdom to task for its poor human rights record and suppression of free speech. Meanwhile, some in Pakistan should also duly note the changes taking place in the Saudi regime’s approach because the Islamisation process in Pakistan was carried out under the Saudi influence. It is about time the Pakistan government did away with all extremist elements and promote the values of pluralism and tolerance in the country. * Published in Daily Times, December 15th 2017.