Biden: We will reassess our relationship with Saudi Arabia … and...

“Two years ago, Saudi agents, believed to be the direction of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, killed and dismembered the dissident Saudi journalist and resident of the United States of America, Jamal Khashoggi,” the democratic candidate said in the statement published on his official website.

Biden added in his statement, saying about Khashoggi: “His accusation, which he paid for with his life, was that he criticized the policies of his country’s government.” His call to peoples everywhere to exercise their universal right to freedom, “as he put it.

Regarding the steps that he plans to take in this regard in the event he wins the presidential elections, Biden said: “With the shadow of the Biden and Harris administration (potential vice president Kamala Harris), we will reassess our relations with the Kingdom, and we will stop US support for the Saudi war in Yemen, and we will ensure that America does not compromise its values ​​for the sake of Sell ​​weapons or buy oil, “he said.

Biden continued, saying, “America’s commitment to democratic values ​​and human rights will be a priority, even with our closest partners on the security front.” He added, “I will defend the rights of activists, political dissidents, and journalists around the world to say what they think without fear of accountability and violence.”

The democratic candidate asserted that Khashoggi’s death “will not pass in vain,” and stressed that everyone owes his memory to the fight for a free and just world, according to the statement.

For its part, “Human Rights Watch” issued a statement warning famous artists and athletes as well as investors from participating in events organized by the Saudi government, noting that Riyadh is pursuing a strategy to attract celebrities and hold artistic and sporting events to “whiten its image” and cover human rights violations. That it commits and spends billions of dollars for that.

The organization announced the launch of a campaign to combat the Kingdom’s attempts to “whitewash its image” and cover its violations, by informing the entertainment and sports sectors about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, and indicated that the campaign will include organizers and participants in huge events sponsored by the Saudi government, asking them to show courage and speak publicly about human rights violations or Not to participate in activities whose aim is to “whitewash the image” of the government.

“For two years, the Saudi government tried by various means to bury the case of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder through sporting forums and events,” Michael Page, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa at the organization, said, “And until the perpetrators are held accountable for this and other crimes committed by the Saudi leadership, those Those who benefit silently from the kingdom expose themselves to the risk of being accused of participating in whitewashing Saudi violations, “according to the organization.

The organization called on businessmen to be wary of participating in the process of whitewashing the reputation of the Saudi government, noting what is stipulated in relevant UN charters.

CNN tried to contact the Saudi embassy in Washington via e-mail to comment on the organization’s statement and showed Khashoggi’s photo on its headquarters, but (the embassy) did not respond.

It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia had issued final verdicts against 8 of those accused of involvement in the killing of Khashoggi and sentenced them to prison terms of a total of 124 years, and closed the case file after the victim’s family dropped their rights.