NEOM project, which is one of the most significant initiatives under Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, has been making stirs for the futuristic design of the eco-city and is currently under scrutiny due to human rights violations for ill-treatment of the indigenous Howeitat tribe.
The United Nations has raised alarms over the execution of three members of the Howeitat tribe who were arrested for terrorism accusations but were resisting the forced evictions tied to the NEOM project, which has been going on since January 2020. These tribal members are getting evicted from their traditional lands, such as Al Khuraiba, Sharma, and Gayal, in promises of fair compensation and involvement in the process, which were allegedly not honored, giving rise to protests and resistance to the government’s desert city development.
The organisation has highlighted Saudi Arabia‘s obligations under the UN Convention and has called out the country to recognize core human rights instruments. The Saudi Public Investment Fund, NEOM and 18 other foreign companies involved in the project are called out to adhere to the human rights standards.
“Given the circumstances, we cannot consider that the requirements of consultation and free, prior and informed consent of the Howeitat people of the three villages have been met,” the experts said. “On the contrary, these actions would certainly amount to forced evictions, which are prohibited under international law as a violation of the right to adequate housing. The actions also constitute flagrant violations of the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.”
“We urge all companies involved, including foreign investors, to ensure that they are not causing or contributing to, and are not directly linked to serious human rights abuses,” they said.
Human Rights Concerns and Corporate Responsibility
The Howeitat tribe consists of probably 20,000 members who have lived in the region and embarked on NEOM for centuries, unlike the portrayal of the area as uninhabited. Malcolm Aw, CEO of Solar Water, has withdrawn their $100 million contract with NEOM after realizing the extent of Human rights violations. Despite NEOM’s promises and the vision of creating a sustainable economy, Aw has criticized the practices of the project since it has been taking shape on the foundations of uprooting Indigenous tribes and their human rights.
Aw supported his statements, saying, “What they’re doing is not ethical, and what they’re doing is they’re creating an exclusivity to house wealthy people in a wealthy tourist area. But that wasn’t the original idea. The idea was to develop a green scenario,”
These incidents raise the question, ‘Should architects and designers withdraw from this urban utopia project?’ Many human rights organizations have urged these architectural firms to reconsider their decision to work on a project with an unrealistic scope, causing displacement of the natural inhabitants. However, due to NDAs, no official statements have been made by firms associated with NEOM’s development.
The NEOM project serves as a stark example of how visionary and futuristic urban planning projects should not overshadow human rights. Architects and designers should refuse work that demands silence and instead focus on projects that bring communities together.
In October 2022, drone footage revealed by OT Sky showed that construction has started on NEOM’s mega-projects. Excavators were seen digging a wide trench in the desert, while lorries transported rocks and sand. These photos show noticeable progress in the construction process.
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