Latest news with #SarahLeahWhitson
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
DAWN Statement On The Trump Administration's War On Iran
In response to U.S. airstrikes inside Iran ordered by President Trump, DAWN issued the following statements: 'Trump's unprovoked and unauthorized attacks on Iran not only violate international law but the U.S. Constitution, which grants only Congress the right to declare war,' said Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN's Executive Director. 'Trump has recklessly launched a war that harms American interests in service of Israeli demands, and broken his promise to the American people to put America first.' 'President Trump's actions will most likely lead to retaliation from Iran that puts American troops and citizens across the Middle East in harm's way,' said Raed Jarrar, DAWN's Advocacy Director. 'Congress should immediately pass a War Powers Resolution to prohibit further U.S. military involvement, even in the event of retaliation. We need de-escalation, not more bombs.' 'Trump has completely folded to Netanyahu, dragging the U.S. into a war that undermines American interests,' said Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, Israel-Palestine Director at DAWN. 'The UN General Assembly should immediately pass a 'Uniting for Peace' resolution to hold both Israel and the U.S. accountable and demand an end to this regime-change campaign.'
Middle East Eye
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Can Biden be tried for Gaza war crimes? Sarah Leah Whitson
In this in-depth interview, Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of the US rights group Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn), explains the organisation's submission to the International Criminal Court in January, urging Prosecutor Karim Khan to investigate former US President Joe Biden and members of his administration for their alleged complicity in Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. This episode was filmed on 10 March 2025. Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form . More about MEE can be found here .
Middle East Eye
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Saudi Arabia carries out arrests over sex work and 'immoral acts'
Saudi Arabia has carried out dozens of arrests in connection with sex work, street begging and human trafficking, days after a new unit was set up to tackle such issues. Last month, the interior ministry announced the creation of the General Department for Community Security and Combating Human Trafficking Crimes. Over 50 arrests have been made thus far, with the unit targeting mostly non-Saudi nationals. Three foreigners were arrested by police in Riyadh over allegations of 'practising prostitution' in a hotel. Elsewhere in the Saudi capital, 14 Yemenis were arrested for 'exploiting 27 children of the same nationality in begging'. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Meanwhile, Jeddah police arrested five foreigners for 'engaging in immoral acts in a massage and relaxation centre'. In al-Qassim province, a man and two women were arrested over sex work charges. The interior ministry said that the remit of the unit was to combat crimes 'that violate personal rights, degrade fundamental freedoms guaranteed by Sharia and the law, or violate the dignity of individuals in any way'. Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn), warned that the new unit's broad remit could lead to arbitrary arrests. 'The right way to police human trafficking or sex work is with clearly defined laws that narrowly proscribe conduct, not vague prescriptions about 'morality' and 'dignity' that open the door for arbitrary arrest and persecution,' she told Middle East Eye. 'Foreigners and migrant workers deserve the same due process protections as Saudi citizens, and that includes a warrant before they're arrested and an opportunity to challenge their charges before an impartial judge.' 'Tarnishing image' Ali Shihabi, a commentator with a focus on Saudi Arabia, said that the new unit was set up to address an uptick in foreigners engaging in sex work. 'The right way to police human trafficking or sex work is with clearly defined laws that narrowly proscribe conduct' - Sarah Leah Whitson, Dawn 'With easy visa access now many women have come in from abroad, stayed in hotels and advertised sex services,' he told MEE. 'It's mainly to address that phenomenon.' As for street begging, Shihabi said it was something authorities 'have been trying to deal with for years'. Khaled al-Sulaiman, a Saudi columnist, wrote in daily newspaper Okaz last month that the new unit would ensure that 'crimes involving immoral and prostitution activities' would not go unpunished. 'Our country has its own religious and social identity as the destination for Muslims, and no one should tarnish the image of Saudi society,' he wrote. 'While such immoral and illegal practices were previously carried out in secret, those who practice them today should never feel they can go public without consequences.' Since rising to power, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reduced the influence of notorious religious and morality police forces which enforced strict codes on ordinary people in Saudi Arabia. These were part of a number of social reforms in his Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the kingdom and improve its international reputation. Despite that, last year the kingdom jailed Manahel al-Otaibi, a fitness instructor, because of opinions she expressed online on women's rights advocacy and for wearing 'indecent clothing'.
