Saudi diplomat seeking asylum: 'My life is in danger'

[IndianaGreen]

Source: MSNBC

Saudi diplomat seeking asylum: 'My life is in danger'

Envoy says he fears persecution if he leaves the U.S. and returns home

By Michael Isikoff
Investigative correspondent

NBC News
updated less than 1 minute ago

A ranking Saudi diplomat told NBC News that he has asked for political asylum in the United States, saying he fears for his life if he is forced to return to his native country.

The diplomat, Ali Ahmad Asseri, the first secretary of the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles, has informed U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials that Saudi officials have refused to renew his diplomatic passport and effectively terminated his job after discovering he was gay and was close friends with a Jewish woman.

In a recent letter that he posted on a Saudi website, Asseri angrily criticized his country’s “backwardness” as well as the role of “militant imams” in Saudi society who have “defaced the tolerance of Islam.” Perhaps most provocatively of all, he has threatened to expose what he describes as politically embarrassing information about members of the Saudi royal family living in luxury in the U.S.

If he is forced to go back to Saudi Arabia — as Saudi officials are demanding — Asseri says he could face political persecution and even death.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39118941/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. This is a guy that should know that the Saudi ruling family get what they want in the USA

Hell, they were the only ones allowed to fly their private jets in the US immediately after 9/11. One can only wonder what the Saudis (some Bin Laden relatives)thought as they flew over the USA on 9/11 knowing that they were the only private aircraft ALLOWED to be flying after the attacks.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Plus he became good friends with an Israeli woman

That's a double beheading offence in Saudi Arabia: queer and Jew lover!

I sure hope that he is granted asylum and not send back to a certain death just to keep the corrupt Saudi monarchy happy. It was the Saudis that financed the Taliban!

[awoke_in_2003]

13. absolutely spot on...

in all aspects.

[No Elephants]

26. OTOH, this guy has been profitably representing the Saudis, so mixed feelings.

[Cal33]

29. But that was under Bush. Let's see, at least, how Obama is going to

react, before condemning the whole USA.

[ingac70]

3. I would have went some where else if I were him. n/t

[JI7]

4. why and where ?

[izquierdista]

7. Scandinavia would be a better choice

Norway really isn't impressed by Saudis having oil and the Danes took pride in befriending Jews.

[awoke_in_2003]

14. how will he get there?

his diplomatic papers were invalidated. He probably couldn't gain entry. He is here, and we should see that he stays if that is what he wants.

[ingac70]

20. The US is too cozy with the House of Saud....

and could give two shits that he's friend with gays.

His petition for asylum will probably be denied.

[comtec]

5. The humanitarian in me of course wants him to get asylum

however... what can he tell us that isn't already known as public wisdom?

Seriously, even if he flips and spills every secret the Saudi government has, will the US government do anything?

You know if this had happened under bush he would have simply disappeared (may still happen) and/or * would have delivered him personally to his butt buddy in SA, with a "here you are my lord"

I hope he flips, and spills every fucking secret to the tiniest detail, and posts it online.

Look his life is forfeit no matter what... he might as well do something for the world's good before he goes (sad, very sad but true)

[Bluenorthwest]

10. asylum and 'what he can tell us' are not related, humanitarian.

And his life is not yours to forfeit. Just saying.

[ZenKitty]

23. +1000

[comtec]

25. never said it was, the saudi's made his life forfeit

that's just reality.
he's dead man walking because of all the influence the Saudi's have over OUR government.
* and Darth may be out of office, but if Darth wanted someone dead because his master told him to, do you think that person is going to live long?

as I said, he should get asylum, but I wonder how long he'll live?

[awoke_in_2003]

15. his life is in danger...

if he returns. We used to take care of people like this, and didn't expect things from them other than to be a good citizen.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

33. LOL. thats a misuse of the word humanitarian.

asylum is not dependent on your ability to spill secrets

[DeSwiss]

6. K&R

I cannot adequately state just how sick I am of religion. Damn.

- What stupid shit...........

[formercia]

8. I wonder if he has Intelligence connections.

The First Secretary is usually reserved for the senior Intelligence Officer of the Country.

[Diclotican]

12. formercia

formercia

I just wonder what type of info this man can give CIA, FBI and so forward, if he is given asylum in the US.. As you pointed out, the first secretary is usally reserved for the senior intelligence officer... And I would guess that he have a lot of information, who can do damage between US and Saudi-Arabia. A country I have warned against many years now, mostly becouse of their Whanabit sect who are the dominant force in Saudi-Arabia

Diclotican

[formercia]

18. My guess is the Saudis will issue a Fatwa against him

with the expectation that someone will silence him before he can talk. No doubt they have their people in place for a very long time just for this kind of situation. They know where he lives, who his friends are, all the information to eliminate him if he follows his usual routine. He has to break contact with everyone and go deep underground to lose his surveillance. Every minute he hesitates is one more minute his life is in danger.

[Diclotican]

21. formercia

formercia

You are posible absolutely right, he might have to breake off all contact to everyone he love, and is friends with. Im pretty sure, if the US government want, they can let him "disapear" to a safe location, where he can live, in some peace and where the information he have, can be given to the agencies.. I am really sure about one thing. The information he have, is enough to blow a hole where you can drive a semi-trailer true the hole in relationship between US and Saudi-Arabia.. It is a Kindom, who at best is talking with splitt tonuge, at worst are doing their best to inflitate, and distord the truth about the suport powerfull groups are given to extreme organisation - like Al-Qauda, who from 1991, to 2004 got ONE milliard dollar, eatch year for not attacing Saudi-Arabian interest... You can make a lot of hell, with One milliard dollar, with a couple of milliard dollars, you can get your own nuclear device.. Something that Al-Quda have claimed they want to have - and to use against the infidels, aka everyone else... And many times groups have been close to get enough fission materiale to manage to build a primitive bomb, but thanks to our different security agencys, in Europe as in other parts of the world, it have failed.. Even when the guards guarding the ex-soviet nuclear weapons facilites was going with mounts before they got paid a sallary, they managed to keep gueard over most of it, and the rest was allways taken into custody before extremists got their hand on them...

No doubt that Saudi-Arabia and the security agency's have their pepole in places, and have it for a long time, ready to "fix" this type of situations if they ever araise.. The Kindom of Saudi-Arabia are a despoti, even when they claim to have some form of "democracy" the fact is, that everything they do, is controllet by the Saudi Arabian Royal House, where the "official" Kindom have the political power, but the religious power are in the hands of a lesser known part of the Royal Household, who is extremely pietly, and who have a lot of power over everything that is been don in Saudi-Arabia.. From the learning in kindergarden, to the university..

The poor man, he have really to go deep undercover, to at least secure himself, and whatever he know about Saudi-Arabian intern afair.. If the US government know their time, they wil be given access to a lot of new information, about Saudi-Arabia, they might know, in a decades time.. And maybe, the information they are given, can give a clue what Saudi-Arabia is up to, the day the country have no oil left... It is fairly known, that the oil S-A have maybe is enough for a couple of decades, and it is also known that Saudi-Arabia is a country with a cripling debt, who is been little more easy becouse of the high prices of crude oil.. They have billions and billions in debt, and they are spending the money on lavish lifestyles that cant be susteined for a long time...

Not to say, the fact is that Saudi-Arabia have a nuclear program, who is less known than Iran, but who some suspect are there to build Saudi-Arabia a nuclear weapon.. The Nuclear Program i Saudi-Arabia was startet alleready in 1991, right after the US-Iraqi war, or the first Gulf war as some like to say it was, and have been in action since... S-A have been really smart, to keep the under the nuclear watchdogs noses, but as the program is gearing up, more and more of it is known... Even tho, S-A have been good at keeping it a secret. From friends, and from foes

Diclotican

[formercia]

31. If I were him, I wouldn't trust the US Government either.

There's too much money involved and too many secrets to embarrass a lot of very powerful people. My guess is that if the Government has a choice,he will wind up back in the hands of his masters in Saudi.

He can find shelter in the Gay community, but even that can be dangerous as I have seen for myself. No one is immune to blackmail and coercion.

The secret is to keep moving and trust none. I have been in that situation myself and know how difficult it can be,

[Diclotican]

34. formercia

formercia

True, a lot of money, and many secrets hwo could embarass a lot of very powerful poepole if it ever was known to many.. Its sad if this man, who posible is a great asset, would end up in his masters hand again... They can get a lot of information, they might never be able to get othervice

Im not a gay myself, and wel I accept that others are gay, and have a few friends, who are gay. They know my position, and accept it, and I accept their orientation, but i know many have not that luxery to have friends, who accept them as they are.. And in many cultures gay is still a taboo, even tho a gay is no less wort than say a hetrosexuell...

It is sad to hear that your sexual orientation have making you to not trust to many, and have to leave from place to place.. It can't be a goood life, to be scared that someone would "oute" you as a gay, even when no one know you in a strange place.. I hope you today is in a safe place, with friends who you can trust and who care for you, regarness of their sexual orientation or not. Im sad to say, it exist to many ignorants out there, I might have been somewhat of a ignorant, but as I grow, and understand more, I have reqonized that everyone is equal, and that the sexual orientation are of no consequenses for friendship...

Diclotican

[formercia]

35. I have gay friends, but straight myself

A woman who I had been friends with for several years and was Gay, had offered to shelter me during a period when I was trying to keep a low profile. She had a girlfriend living with her but she didn't seem to think that was a problem. I soon discovered soon after I had arrived, that she had allowed the authorities to install a hidden video camera in her home to monitor my activities. I trusted her and I thought our friendship was unbreakable, but they managed to co-opt her and get her to turn on me. She did give me a hint though, and let me know. One day, while we were in a place where we couldn't be overheard, she asked me if I was working for the Soviets. I was shocked and confused at her question. It seems that they told her that I was a Soviet agent and they needed her help. She was a Captain in the Army reserve and they held her career hostage. Their allegations were totally fabricated, but they still made my life miserable none the less. The had absolutely no evidence to prove it, for there was none, in fact, quite the opposite. I had tried to warn the FBI that there was a traitor in their ranks, someone who I had worked closely with, Robert Hanssen, turned out to be the Mole. It didn't matter to them that they destroyed my life. I was just acceptable collateral damage as far as they were concerned. They never even apologized.

I would never trust the authorities again for anything and recommend to anyone considering it that you will be considered expendable.

[Diclotican]

36. formercia

formercia

Im so sorry to hear you storry, about been outed by a friend, who was afraid that her homosexuallity should jepardize her military career... That alone is posible reason to repeal the whole Dont Ask dont Tell policy in the US armed forces.. We all know many who are in the armed forces, in US or othervice is homosexual, and maybe even have a parter they love, and care for.. For the most part that is a no brainer, but for some, it is, and it can ruin a career who else could posible be great, maybe ut to a high office.. Who many soldiers, are scared about the fact, that they can loose everything, becouse of their orientation... It is so dam sad...

But it is posible more sad, to know as you experienced, that your friends, was spying on you, and was allowing the authorities to put hidden viode cameras in place to monitor your movement.. What you do, what you eat, wel everything they can bug, and monitor....

I know about Hanssen and the criminality he have been doing, for many, many years before he finaly was busted... It is sad to hear that you was a victim of him, and that you was accused of something that you dosent't was, a spy. But mr Hanssen was a man with many talents, like many spies the russians had in US armed forces or in CIA, and we have no clue how many others, victims of the cold war, and the spying exist out there.. I would bet thousands of good americans are out there, victims, with more or less ruined life becouse of the fact that some is spying for money, like Hanssen did for so many years.. And they managed to keep out of reacth even tho their lifestyle alone, with houses larger than they paycheck could be an alarm on it own.. Not to say that mr Hanssen was spending a lot of money to travel, in style to posh hollidays in the caribian and so on... And even then, he was not given the death penalty, but rather a cell for the rest of his life... And for a reason I doubt he have given up all what he know about russian spying rings in the US....

I do not what to say that can comfort you, this must have been something that you can not accept, and should not accept either.. When the truth came out, that you was no spy, you should at least be told, that the government was sorry for any inconvencies it have given you, and maybe also given you a refound, for lost life... Have you tried to go legal on this, to at least get a form of competation from the government, or have you been told, by "officals" that you better be quit, and not even try to have legal consell about the posibility to get the government to trial. To at least say them are sorry...

And the loss of trust must be enormus.. That even when you have been and are a trustworthy person, who have doing right all time, is expendable and can be trown out as a bad sickness when they do not need you anymore... Must be heart breaking to experience... I have no clue what it would feel like. Even tho I have lost a lot of friends lately, becouse they are not what I belived them to be...

On a sidenote I might have some of the same doubt about the government, as I had a file in our security police when I was young. My foster father was rather left leaning and was in periods keept an eye on, not becouse he was a danger to anyone, mostly becouse he was an outspoken man, never afraid of telling what the powers to be was not allways happy to hear... He was also active in local politic, to the day, when he renounsed his membership in AP, (The social-democratic workers party in Norway) and got out, becouse he was in disagreement with the fical budget that year (1987) He had been member of the party since 1938, and was allways on the left side of the party line.. When I was 18-19 a lot of information about our secret police was known, and thousands of files, from the end of the war (1945 and forward) was discovered, and more or less blown open as a resoult of some who wanted to know more. A lot of documents/documentaries/books and so on was made, becouse of it, and the old POT was reorganized becouse the powers to be, was not happy about it been blown open at all.. But the damage was alleready there, and thousands wanted to se what the government know about them - and many things that was there, was just stupid, something that was in no governments interst to keep a tag on.. Like that I was on hollyday to a "commie country" Bulgaria before the wall was been teared down, Only reason we was there, was becouse it was deep sheap, and everyone could live as a king, for far less than a holliday in say Spain could give.. My fosterpartents was rather economical off them, rised before and after world war two as they was.. And it even was telling with some detail about an "accident" I had in 3 grade, where I beat a 5 grader down and out - becouse he had been teasing since first day at school... I got my revange... And a lot of other vice trivial cases, that the government had been using a lot of money to keep on record - what a waste of money if you ask me... And this was for a kid, who was no danger to anyone, who had not teasing me for a looooong time... And had no interst in politic before I was in college....

Diclotican

[randr]

9. A friend was in Qatar a few weeks ago and reports he read or heard that

Prince Bandar is under house arrest. He was the Saudi ambassador who flew the Bin Laden clan out of the country following 9/11.

[mike r]

11. He's going to need protection

just like the last Saudi defector that the Saudi government tried to kill.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. then we get it for him. nt

[totodeinhere]

17. It's another example of how fundamentalist religion, Christian or Muslim, treats gay people.

It's despicable.

[w4rma]

19. I like him. We should keep him. :) (nt)

[RaleighNCDUer]

22. What does it say about US when an allied diplomat seeks assylum

from that same ally?

Why the fuck are we allied with countries like this?

[dogfacedboy]

24. $$$$$$$$$$$$$

[No Elephants]

27. Wild guess: Oil

[chrisa]

28. And these are our best friends! Yayyyy!!!

:thumbsdown:





:sarcasm:

[Douglas Carpenter]

30. strange the person who started this thread has been tombstoned!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=101256

Strange!! he has been here a long, long time. I wonder what brought this about.

[Poll_Blind]

32. WTF!?!?! IndianaGreen?

:wtf:

PB

[The abyss]

37. This story has all the elements of an espionage thriller.

[JustAnotherGen]

38. He should be allowed to stay

His sexuality alone will cause him to be put to death. America - well we've kind sucked lately. Torture, extraordinary rendition, our inability to extend marriage rights to all of our citizens, bitching and moaning over Islamic community centers . . . Let the man stay.

[mitchum]

39. What? He just realized that he has been a lackey for despotic pigs?