Twitter gives Saudi Arabia a revolution of its own

All this dissent is taking place on the same forum: Twitter. Unlike other media,Twitter has allowed Saudis to cross social boundaries and address delicate subjects collectively and in real time,via shared subject headings like Saudi Corruption and Political Prisoners, known in Twitter as hashtags.

With so many people writing mostly under their real names there are some 2.9 million users in the kingdom,according to one recent study,and it is the worlds fastest-growing Twitter zone the authorities appear to have thrown their hands up.

Some skeptics see the governments unexpected tolerance as a deliberate ploy to let people blow off steam,not so different from the billions of dollars the government spent on social welfare programs last year in the wake of the Arab uprisings: anything to quell a real rebellion.

The sudden lifting of taboos on public criticism has revealed a striking depth of anger at the royal family that cuts across the political spectrum and has led some Saudis to wonder how long this deeply conservative and seemingly placid society can survive without serious reform.

The most flagrant criticism of the royal family by far has come from a single mysterious person named Mujtahidd. (The word means studious.) Starting late last year,Mujtahidd began posting sensational and richly detailed accusations about corrupt arms deals,construction boondoggles and back-room power plays involving numerous royals,including King Abdullah. He often writes directly to the Twitter accounts of the alleged malefactors. Is it true that your house in Jedda cost $1 billion but you charged $6 billion and pocketed the rest? he wrote early this year to Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd. Even the royal family takes him seriously,writing heated denials. He now has more than 660,000 followers. The royal family is said to have made strenuous efforts to uncover Mujtahidds identity,to no avail.