'#JeSuisAbdullah': Western Praise For 'Reformer' King Abdullah Seems Opportunistic

Even as western leaders praise King Abdullah, the late 90-year-old Saudi Arabian ruler, critics slam them for applauding a king whose tenure was rife with "human rights abuses, warmongering and corruption".

There is a huge singing of hosannas to his death, while there is "the expected procession of top dignitaries to pay condolences in Riyadh," according to theguardian.com. They "serve as a reminder that Saudi Arabia, with its abundant wealth and geopolitical influence, is a perpetual exception to the west's emphasis on human rights," it adds.

Here are a few of the contradictions that exist in all the plaudits:

1. US Secretary of State, John Kerry, called him "a brave partner in fighting violent extremism, who proved just as important as a proponent of peace."

But ironically, a 2013 law banning terrorist financing preceded the declaration of Saudi Arabia as "the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide," according to a US diplomatic cable from WikiLeaks, according to rt.com.

2. Former US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that the King had been "a powerful voice for tolerance, moderation, and peace," and appreciated that he was "advancing the lives of his people at home as well as his country's leadership abroad."

However, a second leaked cable showed that he had told the US to hit Iran so that it could destroy Iran's nuclear program. It was in 2008 that he met General David Petraeus and was recorded telling America to "cut off the head of the snake."

3. There are fond memories in UK, in which flags are asked to be flown at half-mast in order to honour him. A government website however puts in a note that "local authorities are not bound by this request but may wish to follow it for guidance."

Even Prince Charles, a good friend of King Abdullah, has flown to Saudi Arabia to pay his last respects. He made frequent visits to that country, and once even was part of a ritual sword dance with the members of the royal family last year.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, "I knew him well and admired him greatly. Despite the turmoil of events in the region around him, he remained a stable and sound ally, was a patient and skillful modernizer of his country, leading it step by step into the future."

However, critics point out that the King repeatedly worked to create wars and conflicts in the Middle East. Once, Abdullah had asked the US to support the Sunni rebels who were trying to attack and remove the Syrian Assad regime.

4. In Elysee Palace, a French appreciation of King Abdullah's "vision of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" was put out.

Even though he made some efforts, according to the Human Rights Watch (HRW), "marginal advances that failed to secure the fundamental rights of Saudi citizens to free expression, association, and assembly," Abdullah could not limit the human rights flaws in Saudi Arabia, "including public floggings of dissidents and executions for sorcery".

Last summer, HRW recorded an increase in executions in Saudi Arabia. Between August 4 and 21, 19 had been killed---eight of them for just some nonviolent crimes such as drug smuggling and sorcery.

While convicts are beheaded, abusers of "crimes of morality", such as adultery, are stoned to death.

Recently, Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger, had been punished with 1,000 lashes and 10 years imprisonment merely for setting up a website that violated general security and jeered at some religious figures. Initially charged with apostasy, or contradicting religion, he could even have been given the death penalty.

There were protests against his punishment at Saudi Arabian embassies all over the world.

5. Chancellor Angela Merkel, was not so effusive in her praise, but she too appreciated him for his "cautious modernization of his country." He was appreciated by many for sponsoring a co-educational graduate-level university, which was seen as progressive in a country that did not permit women to drive.

The International Monetary Fund head, Christine Lagarde, also praised Abdullah. "In a very discreet way, he was a strong advocate of women. It was very gradual, appropriately so probably for the country. I discussed that issue with him several times and he was a strong believer," she said.

However, King Abdullah has locked up his four daughters in the last 13 years or so, for speaking out against the country's oppression of women.

"What is the crime of 99 percent of women in this country, who are basically suffering under male guardianship? A male guardian can do whatever he wants; he can cut off everything and she is left with nothing," they told RT in an interview last year.

Yet, in spite of his appalling human rights background and conflict creation, western leaders have joined hands in supporting and lauding him. It is obvious that they appreciate his country's strategic and "oily" importance to its western allies.

Twitter writers lash hypocritical stands, with the conspicuous #JeSuisAbdullah hashtag.

For instance, Amnesty International tweeted: "Following death of King Abdullah, US should press for #humanrights reform in #SaudiArabia: https://owl.li/HQfxB  #FreeRaif @SaudiEmbassyUSA."