US Acts Tough After Jamal Khashoggi Murder, Bars 16 Saudi Nationals From Entering US

The United States has taken tough stand  against Saudi Arabia after their alleged involvement in the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. It has in its latest action according to media reports have barred the entry of at least 16 Saudi nationals into the country.

The 16 Saudis banned from entering the US are — Saud al-Qahtani, Maher Mutreb, Salah Tubaigy, Meshal Albostani, Naif Alarifi, Mohammed Alzahrani, Mansour Abahussain, Khalid Alotaibi, Abdulaziz Alhawsawi, Waleed Alsehri, Thaar Alharbi, Fahad Albalawi, Badr Alotaibi, Mustafa Almadani, Saif Alqahtani and Turki Alsehri, according to a press release issued by the US State Department.

“These designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2019 (Section 7031(c)),” the statement said.

“Section 7031(c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State (Michael Pompeo) has credible information that officials of foreign governments have been involved in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States,” it said.

“The law requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate such officials and their immediate family members,” the statement further said.