The Saudi Executions: Fury in Iran But Not Here « LobeLog

The Saudi Executions: Fury in Iran But Not Here « LobeLog



http://lobelog.com/the-saudi-executions-fury-in-iran-but-not-here/#more-32425

The Saudi Executions: Fury in Iran But Not Here

by Thomas W. Lippman


The Obama administration’s reaction to the mass executions in Saudi Arabia on New Year’s Day came in the form of a mildly worded statement issued over the holiday weekend by State Department spokesman John Kirby.


It said that the United States has:

seen the Saudi government’s announcement that it
executed 47 people. We have previously expressed our concerns about the
legal process in Saudi Arabia and have frequently raised these concerns
at high levels of the Saudi Government. We reaffirm our calls on the
Government of Saudi Arabia to respect and protect human rights, and to
ensure fair and transparent judicial proceedings in all cases. The
United States also urges the Government of Saudi Arabia to permit
peaceful expression of dissent and to work together with all community
leaders to defuse tensions in the wake of these executions.?


We are particularly concerned that the execution of prominent
Shia cleric and political activist Nimr al-Nimr risks exacerbating
sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced. In
this context, we reiterate the need for leaders throughout the region to
redouble efforts aimed at de-escalating regional tensions.

The statement did not indicate that the United States would take or contemplate taking any action.