Congressmen Urge New Saudi King to Improve Human Rights

A press release from Congressman Peter Roskam:

Roskam, McGovern Encourage Saudi King Salman to Advocate for Human Rights and Democratic Reforms

Roskam looking at camera neutralWASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) joined with 65 House colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud expressing condolences on the passing of his late father and encouraging him to serve as an advocate for human rights and democratic reforms in Saudi Arabia.

In their letter, the lawmakers wrote:

In this moment of transition, and recognizing that your country is a state party to several international human rights conventions, you have an historic opportunity to build on the steps taken by King Abdullah to strengthen education and initiate judicial reform, by

  • ending the ban on women driving and reforming the guardianship system
    lifting restrictions on public gatherings and social media
  • reforming ‘anti-terror’ laws that have criminalized some who peacefully
  • express criticism ensuring due process in criminal proceedings and ending the use of torture
  • allowing religious minorities to exercise their faithsenacting a law for associations so that local human rights organizations are formally recognized

The full text of the letter follows and can be viewed here.


Comments

Congressmen Urge New Saudi King to Improve Human Rights — 5 Comments

  1. Roskam is a typical Republirat loon ….. he’s so worried about what goes on in Arabia, he couldn’t care less about defending US sovereignty on the US-Mexican frontier.

    He’s all for a brand new bankrupting, futile, unconstiutional and immoral war against the Persians, as his AIPAC keepers direct, despite the fact that the wars he cheered for, on Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, etc. have backfired so badly …

    He’s another Kirk-type ……. I wonder what he’s bein’ blackmailed with!!!??

  2. As much as citizens may have their individual interests, as much as this nation may have major issues of its own, as much as we may desire a little focus from our seemingly ADHD hypocritical leadership…

    The United States are an international power with responsibilities to, at the least, act as a Board of Directors would and attempt to offer some visionary direction to our allies, friends and neighbors.

    This letter is an attempt to do such in a bipartisan way to show external unity even as we are at war ideologically with ourselves.

    Roskam understands this and still is attempting to get some positive work done in an environ populated with nearly 100% self serving egomaniacs who couldn’t care less about what is good government if there isn’t a personal check attached for their efforts.

    This is good work from a pragmatic politician.

  3. Until any legislator is willing to stop his feet and get his fellow legislator’s onboard to lock down our boarders, I care less what they have to say.

    Secure our country, please.

    Deaf ears are all this subject falls upon.

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