Republicans see human rights as a political tool: US Senator

US Democrat senator from Connecticut accuses Republicans of politically dealing with human rights.

Iran PressAmerica: "It's funny how all the Republicans who talk tough on human rights violations in China and Cuba and Venezuela get all quiet when it happens in the [Persian]Gulf," Chris Murphy from Connecticut wrote in protest of the imprisonment of Saudi rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul.

A Saudi court on Monday sentenced prominent women's rights activist Lina al-Hathloul to five years and eight months in prison, in a trial that has drawn international condemnation.

Hathloul, 31, has been held since 2018 following her arrest along with at least a dozen other women's rights activists.

The verdict, reported by Sabq and al-Shark al-Awsat newspapers, poses an early challenge to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's relationship with US President-elect Joe Biden, who has described Riyadh as a 'pariah' for its human rights record.

The brother of Saudi human rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul said his sister's trial was politically motivated. 215/207

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