To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Washington: Increase Peace & Human Rights Pressure on Saudi Government
Just Foreign Policy
President Obama and Congress should work with the international community to increase pressure on the Saudi government to end its use and support of sectarian violence and end flagrant violations of human rights.
Why is this important?
The government of Saudi Arabia, purportedly a close U.S. ally, has dramatically escalated tensions in the Middle East by executing a prominent Shia cleric who had criticized the Saudi government [1] and by ending the ceasefire in Yemen [2]. This escalation threatens international efforts to end the Syrian civil war and reduce the threat to the West of terrorism from the region.
Saudi Arabia's vast oil wealth means that it doesn't necessarily have to listen to unilateral U.S. requests to moderate its actions. But by acting in concert with Europe and other U.S. allies, the U.S. can pressure Saudi Arabia to reduce its use of and support of sectarian violence that is destabilizing the region and fueling terrorism - as the U.S. successfully cooperated with Europe and other allies to pressure Iran to curtail its nuclear program. The Saudi government isn't the only party that needs to cooperate to de-escalate tensions, but greater international constraints on the Saudi government are a necessary condition for international efforts at de-escalation to succeed.
Urge President Obama and Congress to cooperate with Europe to impose greater pressure on Saudi Arabia on peace and human rights by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/02/saudi-execution-of-shia-cleric-sparks-outrage-in-middle-east
2. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/02/saudi-led-coalition-ends-truce-houthi-rebels-yemen
Saudi Arabia's vast oil wealth means that it doesn't necessarily have to listen to unilateral U.S. requests to moderate its actions. But by acting in concert with Europe and other U.S. allies, the U.S. can pressure Saudi Arabia to reduce its use of and support of sectarian violence that is destabilizing the region and fueling terrorism - as the U.S. successfully cooperated with Europe and other allies to pressure Iran to curtail its nuclear program. The Saudi government isn't the only party that needs to cooperate to de-escalate tensions, but greater international constraints on the Saudi government are a necessary condition for international efforts at de-escalation to succeed.
Urge President Obama and Congress to cooperate with Europe to impose greater pressure on Saudi Arabia on peace and human rights by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/02/saudi-execution-of-shia-cleric-sparks-outrage-in-middle-east
2. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/02/saudi-led-coalition-ends-truce-houthi-rebels-yemen