Foreign Correspondent: April 26

This week Foreign Correspondent screens footage from a UK doco which uncovers human rights violations in Saudi Arabia -and how some are fighting back.

Undercover cameras provide a rare window into one of the world’s most secretive countries, revealing how Saudi Arabia ruthlessly crushes internal dissent – and how some people are fighting back.

Saudi Arabia is one of our key allies in the Arab world. It’s a major trading partner whose defenses are plumped up by billions of dollars worth of arms and equipment bought from western powers…

…which might help explain why its atrocious human rights record slides by largely unremarked.

“In Saudi they say, ‘the walls can hear’. There is no freedom of thought.” – Saudi dissident

Journalists – if they are allowed in – cannot operate freely. But now a British documentary team has skirted those restrictions, using secret cameras to expose the harshness of life inside the strict Wahhabist kingdom – public beheadings, floggings, stark poverty and women harassed by religious police.

Dissenters risk life or liberty.

“I’m now on Ghweifat Road. I’m trying to drive across the Saudi border, so let’s see what happens.” – activist Loujain Hathloul, jailed for 73 days after defying a ban on women driving

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” – blogger Raif Badawi, sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in jail

“Ali is just a normal Arab boy who dreams of freedom.” – mother of Ali Nimr, who was arrested at age 17 then sentenced to death by beheading for his role in street protests

“No country is the perfect ally, perfect partner without reservations whatsoever. So you know, welcome to the real world, welcome to the premier league.” – General (Ret.) David Petraeus, former CIA director

9.30pm on Tuesday April 26 on ABC.