Category: Quoted

Quoted: MSNBC – “The World Cup disaster in Qatar”

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/why-the-world-cup-no-game

“Amnesty believes the U.S. can also take a more aggressive approach in demanding that a certain set of international standards be met.

“Members of Congress and the White House need to incorporate labor rights in [the U.S.’s] bilateral relationship with Qatar,” said Sunjeev Bery, Amnesty [International USA]’s Middle East and North Africa advocacy director, to msnbc. “Sporting events are frequently used as opportunities for host government to rebrand the country. It’s important that the 2022 World Cup not become a situation where massive human rights abuses are swept under the rug.”

 

Quoted: Bloomberg | “Obama Seeks to Reassure Saudi King on Iran Talks, Syria”

“The president’s silence demonstrates once again that when it comes to human rights, the U.S. holds repressive allies to a much lower standard than adversaries,” said Sunjeev Bery, Amnest International USA’s advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Bloomberg: Obama Seeks to Reassure Saudi King on Iran Talks, Syria

By Julianna Goldman and Mike Dorning | March 29, 2014

 

Quoted: Washington Examiner | “Obama refuses to raise human rights issues with Saudis”

Washington Examiner: Obama refuses to raise human rights issues with Saudis

By Joel Gehrke | March 31, 2014

 

“…It wasn’t just Republicans angry with Obama. Amnesty International accused him of showing hypocrisy on human rights issues.

“The president’s silence demonstrates once again that when it comes to human rights, the U.S. holds repressive allies to a much lower standard than adversaries,” Amnesty International’s Sunjeev Bery said. “On Saturday, Saudi Arabian women activists will defy the government’s ban on women driving. It is the only such ban in the world. Through Amnesty International’s campaign, thousands of people in the U.S. have shown their solidarity with these brave women. Unfortunately, White House officials, including the president, will not be among them.”

Quoted: McClatchy News | “Obama honors Saudi woman’s fight against abuse, heads back to Washington”

McClatchy Washington Bureau:   Obama honors Saudi woman’s fight against abuse, heads back to Washington

By Lesley Clark | March 29, 2014

 

Sunjeev Bery, Amnesty International’s advocacy director for Middle East and North Africa, said the group was deeply disappointed that Obama didn’t raise human rights issues with the Saudi leader or speak about it publicly.

“The President’s silence demonstrates once again that when it comes to human rights, the U.S. holds repressive allies to a much lower standard than adversaries,” Bery said.

Amnesty noted that 70 members of Congress had urged Obama to bring up the “significant government repression” facing Saudis.

Quoted: FoxNews.com | Amnesty International says human rights ‘missing in action’ on Obama trip to Saudi Arabia

FoxNews.com:   Amnesty International says human rights ‘missing in action’ on Obama trip to Saudi Arabia

Published March 28, 2014

Amnesty International is criticizing President Obama for not discussing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record in either private meetings with King Abdullah or meetings with other Saudi officials.

A spokesman for the human rights group Sunjeev Bery said in a statement Friday that “human rights were missing in action” during Obama’s trip to the Middle Eastern nation.

He noted that 70 members of Congress urged the president to speak up about the many Saudis that are facing repression by their government, but Obama did not do so.

“The president’s silence demonstrates once again that when it comes to human rights, the U.S. holds repressive allies to a much lower standard than adversaries,” he said.

Quoted: ABC News Radio | “Amnesty Int’l Challenges Obama to Bring Female Driver to Saudi Arabia”

ABC News Radio:  Amnesty Int’l Challenges Obama to Bring Female Driver to Saudi Arabia

By Carmen Cox

March 27, 2014

…Amnesty International also weighed in, urging the president to bring along a female Secret Service agent as his driver while in the Kingdom.

“President Obama should show his support by bringing a female Secret Service driver with him to the country,” said Sunjeev Bery, the group’s Middle East North Africa advocacy director….