US claims 'disappointed' by Saudi Arabia's jailing of Twitter critic

The United States says it was “disappointed” by its ally, Saudi Arabia, after a court in the kingdom confirmed a 20-year prison sentence on an aid worker who was accused of tweeting against the regime.

Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, 37, had been first sentenced to 20 years in prison in April over an anonymous Twitter account with criticism of the kingdom's rulers, according to his family.

His sister, Areej al-Sadhan, a US citizen, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday that an appeals court confirmed the prison sentence.

On Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price expressed concern over the jail sentence, saying Washington is “disappointed."

Price said that al-Sadhan, an employee of the Red Crescent was jailed “for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.”

"We have closely monitored his case and are concerned by allegations that Mr. al-Sadhan was subjected to mistreatment, that he has been unable to communicate with family members and that his fair trial guarantees were not respected," he added.

The initial prison sentence had also triggered condemnation by Washington.

But al-Sadhan’s sister accused the administration of President Joe Biden of enabling the verdict by not taking meaningful action against the kingdom.

She said at a vigil in Washington last week that Saudi jailers nearly killed her brother. She said they smashed his hand as saying, ”Is this the hand you tweet with?”

She said Biden encouraged such behavior by Riyadh for not taking action against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), despite finding him responsible for the murder of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi was murdered by agents of the Saudi regime in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, after being lured to the consulate building on the pretext of providing him with papers for his upcoming wedding.

He was suffocated and dismembered while his fiancée was waiting outside for him. His remains have not been found.

US lawmaker calls on Congress to end Saudi impunity over Khashoggi murder

US Congressman Gerry Connolly urges Congress to approve an amendment to defense bill to end Saudi impunity over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

While Biden finally published an assessment by US intelligence agencies that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) personally ordered the murder of Khashoggi, he later cited “national interests” for not punishing bin Salman.

During his presidential campaign, Biden called Saudi Arabia “a pariah,” pledging to take a much tougher line with the kingdom than his Republican predecessor Donald Trump had.

However, apart from sanctions on some lower-ranking Saudi officials, no other punitive measures have been taken against the kingdom.

The Biden administration has come under mounting pressure to cut off arms sales to Riyadh over the killing and the Saudis' efforts to intimidate and silence dissidents in the kingdom and abroad.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk