The United States is investigating reports one of its closest friends in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia, is cracking down on Muslim dissidents who helped create what is described as the monarchy's first human rights committee.
Even while announcing the U.S. Embassy inquiry, however, the State Department said Friday that "the United States is in no way interfering in the internal affairs of Saudi Arabia."Nor, the statement said, did a meeting held by American diplomats with representatives of the group, called the Commission for the Defense of Legitimate Rights, "affect our excellent relations."
According to an official Saudi statement issued Thursday in Riyadh, six Saudi scholars and lawyers who recently set up the human rights commission were fired from their jobs and their offices closed. The lawyers' licenses were revoked.
The action was taken "in light of the dictates of the public interest," read the brief statement, distributed by the official Saudi Press Agency.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia's chief Muslim theological body - the Supreme Council of Ulemas - declared the group illegal.
The State Department, asked for comment on the crackdown, responded with a brief statement. It said "our embassy will look into the reports of the dismissal from employment of members" of the committee and that U.S. Embassy officers had met with representatives of the group.