US religion and policy group opposes arms sale to Saudi Arabia

The Institute on Religion and Public Policy, a religious freedom advocacy group, is calling on the US Congress to vote down a proposed US$20 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia because of human rights violations in the oil-rich kingdom, reports Ecumenical News International.

The call, made in a 15 January letter to members of both houses of the US Congress by the Washington-based institute, came as President George W. Bush visited the Saudi Arabia capital of Riyadh and his administration announced a proposed sale of armaments that includes advanced satellite-guided weaponry. "Such military support would embolden a nation that exemplifies the worst qualities of tyranny and violation of fundamental rights," said Joseph K. Grieboski, the president of the institute. In the letter he described the proposed sale as a "flagrant violation" of earlier statements by Bush, including in the US president's 2005 inaugural address.

[01/20/2008]

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