Jailed Bahraini activist criticizes Trump for Gulf arms sales
Source: Reuters
MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA | Wed May 17, 2017 | 12:36pm EDT
Jailed Bahraini activist criticizes Trump for Gulf arms sales
Jailed Bahraini rights activist Nabeel Rajab criticized U.S. President Donald Trump in a New York Times column on Wednesday for selling arms to his country and Saudi Arabia, citing of their human rights records.
The column appeared ahead of Trump's visit this weekend to regional power Saudi Arabia, a supporter of the fellow Sunni Muslim-ruled kingdom of Bahrain as it grapples with continued unrest from its Shi'ite majority.
Both countries have been fighting for over two years in Yemen against the Iran-allied Houthi movement, which they have yet to defeat despite launching thousands of air strikes.
"
Trump's) administration already decided to lift all human rights restrictions on arms sales to my country, Bahrain, which is a partner in the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen," the column said.
"It fills me with shame that my country, Bahrain, is bombing Yemen, with United States support. And while the Saudi-led coalition continues its air assault on Yemen, Bahrain is also trying to crush civil society back home."
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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bahrain-security-usa-idUSKCN18D26L