Democracy Rules

The government of Saudi Arabia, led by its royal family, is often criticized for its maltreatment of religious and political minorities, guest workers, homosexuals and women. The Kingdom tolerates little dissent. In 2011, it proposed criminalizing basic human rights such as freedom of expression, assembly and association. Critics say the Saudi justice system is characterized by arbitrary arrests, unfair trials and harsh punishments. They say thousands of people have been secretly arrested, detained and tortured, while others have been killed under unknown circumstances. Saudi authorities continue to suppress the rights of 9 million Saudi women and 8 million foreign workers.

Jamal Khashoggi was a Saudi Arabian dissident, author and columnist for the Washington Post who wrote newspaper articles critical of the Saudi government. Khashoggi had been critical of Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and the country's king, Salman of Saudi Arabia. He also opposed the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. In 2018, Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents related to his planned marriage, but was never seen leaving. News reports claim he had been killed and dismembered inside by Saudi and Turkish officials. His body has never been found. Initially, the Saudi government denied the death, but following shifting explanations for Khashoggi's death, Saudi Arabia's attorney general eventually admitted the murder was premeditated. Our CIA later reported that Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's assassination.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.1464 - Saudi Arabia Accountability for Gross Violations of Human Rights Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Tom Malinowski (NJ)

I oppose reforming current Saudi Arabia human rights policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
I support requiring the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to report to Congress about the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and imposes related sanctions to: 1.) Determine whether any government official of Saudi Arabia had advanced knowledge of the killing, ordered the killing or was involved in tampering with related evidence. 2.) List any foreign persons that the ODNI has high confidence were responsible for Khashoggi's death, materially assisted in causing the death, or impeded any investigations into the death. 3.) Barring such foreign persons from entering the United States and revoke visas belonging to such persons. 4.) Reporting to Congress about the extent to which Saudi Arabia is responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and about U.S. actions to address such violations. The report shall also describe the publication by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education of intolerant educational materials and U.S. actions to encourage an end to the production and use of such materials. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Tom Malinowski (NJ) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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I support requiring the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to report to Congress about the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and imposes related sanctions to: 1.) Determine whether any government official of Saudi Arabia had advanced knowledge of the killing, ordered the killing or was involved in tampering with related evidence. 2.) List any foreign persons that the ODNI has high confidence were responsible for Khashoggi's death, materially assisted in causing the death, or impeded any investigations into the death. 3.) Barring such foreign persons from entering the United States and revoke visas belonging to such persons. 4.) Reporting to Congress about the extent to which Saudi Arabia is responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and about U.S. actions to address such violations. The report shall also describe the publication by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education of intolerant educational materials and U.S. actions to encourage an end to the production and use of such materials. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Tom Malinowski (NJ) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.