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Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the U.S.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah died yesterday at age 90. His brother, Prince Salman, who is 79 years old, has taken over the throne. In a country where human rights are sharply curtailed by conservative Islamic law, King Abdullah was sometimes described as a cautious reformer during his some 20 years in power.

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KCRW placeholderBy Barbara Bogaev • Jan 23, 2015 • 1 min read

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah died yesterday at age 90. His brother, Prince Salman, who is 79 years old, has taken over the throne. In a country where human rights are sharply curtailed by conservative Islamic law, King Abdullah was sometimes described as a cautious reformer during his some 20 years in power. Saudi women got the right to vote during his rule, but did not make good on his promise to allow them to drive. We take a look at his legacy and the larger upheaval happening in the region.

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    Barbara Bogaev

    radio journalist

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    Andrew Walsh

    Too Beautiful to Live

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    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

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    Matt Holzman

    Producer, 'The Document'

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    Borzou Daragahi

    BuzzFeed News

    News
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand