U.S. Officials and Members of Congress Deliver Sharp Criticism Over Crown Prince’s Visit, Stressing Human Rights as a Priority in Dialogue
Senior members of the U.S. Congress have issued strong criticism of President Donald Trump’s warm reception of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the United States, amid the ongoing deterioration of human rights in the Kingdom.
Senator Bernie Sanders said that Trump “welcomes Mohammed bin Salman, the dictator who ordered the killing of an American journalist simply for criticizing the ruling family,” referring to the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Sanders added, “It is unfortunate that we have a president who prefers the Saudi model — an autocratic system run by a billionaire family — over democracy.”
Senator Dick Durbin also urged President Trump to make human rights a central focus of his discussions with the Crown Prince, stressing that ignoring abuses in Saudi Arabia undermines the values the United States claims to defend.
International human rights criticism continues to mount against Saudi Arabia’s record, as executions and arrests have increased in recent years — including politically motivated cases, such as the execution of journalist Turki Al-Jasser on June 14 of this year.
“The U.S. President should urge Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to stop the imminent execution of Yusuf Al-Manasif — a Shia man arrested for exercising his right to religious freedom and expressing his beliefs — and to ensure respect for freedom of religion and belief for all Shia citizens in Saudi Arabia.”
SANAD Human Rights Organization affirms that ignoring Saudi Arabia’s severe human rights violations — including the rising number of executions — poses a direct threat to individual safety and fundamental rights. The organization stresses the responsibility of governments and international institutions to apply effective pressure to halt these practices, ensure accountability for those responsible, and secure the rights of victims and their families, rather than offering any form of support or welcome to the officials overseeing these repressive policies.
