These dissident voices can become Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s greatest assets, if he continues to pursue the path toward reform and modernization. He should release Raif Badawi, his lawyer Waleed Abulkhair, and anyone else who has been detained or imprisoned for peaceful activism towards the kind of reform the government is already promoting—not just from compassion, or for the sake of Western approval, or even because it’s the right thing to do, but out of rational self-interest.

First, releasing Badawi and others who pose no threat to the monarchy’s authority (even if it means getting a cooperative cleric to issue an appropriate fatwa) sends a strong message that the crown prince is secure in his position, has fully consolidated his power and has nothing to fear. By acting secure in his decisions, Mohammed bin Salman can become what he aspires to be.

Second, such a decision would aid his quest for ridding the kingdom of corruption. The decisions against Badawi and others were made by the crown prince’s predecessors, and since these people are no longer in power, there is no better way to signal the corruption probe’s legitimacy than by discarding the legacy of these power-abusing cronies.

Third, releasing Badawi and others sends a strong message to the West—not in the sense of getting anyone’s approval, which no sovereign leader needs, but in the sense of exposing the hypocrisy of Western countries that use Saudi Arabia’s human-rights record to impose sanctions, while simultaneously supporting evil regimes that have no qualms about executing people like Badawi. This move would give the monarchy greater legitimacy and leverage against bad actors in the international arena.

Fourth, the voices of Badawi and others are essential to assist in reforms on the ground. The presence of more voices in support of Mohammed bin Salman’s reforms grants him internal legitimacy and support, and will help him meet his goals sooner. He needs allies, particularly those with their own legitimacy, who clearly believe in what they are doing independently of government pressure. There is no reason why, even in a monarchy, the government and its subjects must be on opposite sides of many issues. In Saudi Arabia, real reforms will take a long time, because they require investment in people’s minds. That’s where voices among the people can achieve what no government can impose.

Finally, an immediate release of dissidents shows the region that real leadership has arrived, with a vision for a much better future—one not imposed by the United States, but rather one indigenous to the country’s potential and aspirations for the region, setting an example of greatness that emerges from a singular vision and the means to execute it.

There is also a place for President Trump, who would see a peaceful, stable, free and prosperous Middle East as part of his legacy. He does not need to expend any additional resources; all he needs to do is back his ally and, along with other Western countries, express vocal and consistent support for each step in the right direction. Positive and affirmative comments for one who is starting out on a challenging path can make the difference between inspiration and frustrated missteps. Now, there is an opportunity to give credit where it’s due: to acknowledge that the Saudis are finally taking control over their own lives and are moving in a positive direction—not because they had no choice, but because they did. And they chose well.

Irina Tsukerman is a human-rights and national-security attorney and analyst based in New York. She has counseled members of the U.S. Congress on the Raif Badawi case and assorted Middle Eastern affairs. She has also published extensively on a variety of human-rights cases and security and geopolitical matters in an assortment of American and international publications.

Image: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman attends the Annual Horse Race ceremony, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 30, 2017. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout/File Photo via REUTERS