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.@LoujainHathloul and other women advocated for the right to drive in Saudi Arabia. Last year, shortly before granting that right (to much fanfare about the new, “progressive” Kingdom) Prince MbS had Loujain kidnapped from Dubai, where she was living. Others were also taken. 1/
Like Samar Badawi, who was given the International Women of Courage Award by the U.S. State Department in 2012. 2/
slate.com/news-and-polit…
slate.com/news-and-polit…
They were put in jail without being charged. They were tortured. 3/nytimes.com/2019/01/13/opi…
Why? To send a message to other Saudis that activism doesn’t work. The right to drive was a gift from the Prince – one he hadn’t been pressured to give. Months later, the Prince allegedly ordered the murder of @JKhashoggi – again crossing national lines to silence dissent. 4/
What has the United States done about these human rights atrocities? These insults to our stated values? The President has validated the Saudi cover story that Khashoggi was killed in a rogue operation. And his daughter and son-in-law? 5/ 
It’s so sad and embarrassing to frame U.S. foreign policy around the actions of this whining, criminal, traitorous family of mediocrities. But that’s where we are right now. As long as KSA buys Trump Hotel rooms and condos and arranges loans to failing Kushner properties... 6/
...murder is excused. Torture is ignored.
Congress is trying to pressure the Saudis on behalf of the imprisoned activists – a few weeks ago, @RepLoisFrankel (with @RepAdamSchiff and others) introduced a resolution calling for their immediate and unconditional release. 7/
Congress is trying to pressure the Saudis on behalf of the imprisoned activists – a few weeks ago, @RepLoisFrankel (with @RepAdamSchiff and others) introduced a resolution calling for their immediate and unconditional release. 7/
But the Saudis have ignored it. Why wouldn’t they, when they have Jared Kushner “in their pocket”? 8/ theintercept.com/2018/03/21/jar…
.@KarenAttiah, @NickKristof and other prominent journalists have brought attention to the plight of Loujain and the other activists. Unfortunately, today, perhaps in response to that public pressure, the Saudis have decided, finally, to file charges. 9/
nytimes.com/2019/01/26/opi…
nytimes.com/2019/01/26/opi…
Their calculation is that public dismay is fleeting – there will be another Trump outrage soon, another cause, another distraction. That petitions and resolutions are just paper unless there is policy and action to back it up. 10/
We can be better than this. We can demand that our country stop selling weapons and nuclear technology to a country that takes a bone saw to decency. We can demand that performers stop art-washing human rights abusers. 11/ cnn.com/2019/02/01/mid…
Or we can get distracted by the next thing.
And one day read that the women who wanted nothing more than the basic freedom *that was given to every other woman in their country* aren’t here anymore. And wonder if there was anything we could have done about it. #FreeLoujain /end
And one day read that the women who wanted nothing more than the basic freedom *that was given to every other woman in their country* aren’t here anymore. And wonder if there was anything we could have done about it. #FreeLoujain /end
