WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th August, 2018) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should condemn the crackdown on women's rights advocates in Saudi Arabia, particularly citing the case of activist Samar Badawi, more than 30 US lawmakers said in a letter on Monday.
"We write to express our grave concern over the imprisonment of civil society and women's rights activists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and call for their immediate release," the letter said. "We are dismayed at the economic and diplomatic retaliation leveled by Saudi Arabia at Canada for expressing these concerns and urge the administration to come to the defense of our NATO ally."
The letter said Badawi should be released without conditions, and that Pompeo should work with Canada to use all diplomatic tools in order to secure her release.
The State Department's refusal to condemn Badawi's arrest during a press briefing several weeks ago was disturbing, the letter said.
Badawi is the sister of Saudi opposition activist Raif Badawi who created the Free Saudi Liberals website. He was arrested in 2012 on allegations of insulting islam and eventually sentenced to ten years in prison. Raid Badawi's wife and children fled to Canada, where they were granted citizenship last month.
