Wed, Jun 29, 2011
Says FAA Oversight, Congressional Investigation Needed
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) said Monday it
is demanding that Delta Air Lines end its partnership with Saudi
Arabian Airlines, owned by the Saudi government, which embraces
discriminatory policies targeting Jews, Christians and women. The
ACLJ, which has mobilized both legal and legislative teams, is also
calling for the FAA to get involved, and for Congress to probe this
troubling deal.
"For Delta to form a business relationship with a country that
has a disturbing record of human rights violations is not only
problematic, but warrants further scrutiny from the federal
government and Congress," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the
ACLJ. "Delta says it does not discriminate in its business
practices, but then says it cannot control what other nations
do. Delta can't have it both ways. If you choose to do
business with a government that discriminates on the basis of
religion, ethnicity, and gender - you simply cannot brush it
aside. We're calling for FAA oversight of this deal and a
Congressional investigation. Delta can do the right thing -
and cancel this business relationship, and it should."
Delta announced the partnership with Saudi Arabian Airlines in
January and issued this release: "We are honored that Saudi Arabian
has chosen to link its future growth and success with Delta and our
SkyTeam partners, while bringing our alliance greater access to
destinations across the Middle East."
Under this new alliance, the ACLJ says they are concerned that
American Jews will be prohibited from flying into the country, and
that non-Jews with an Israeli stamp in their passport could be
targeted. They further speculate that U.S. citizens who are
Christian could face discrimination in Islamic countries like Saudi
Arabia where Sharia Law is embraced.
Late last week, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) sent a letter to
the FAA requesting a probe into this matter "to determine whether
Delta Air Lines violated U.S. law or regulation and to ensure no
U.S. citizen is denied their right to fly solely on the basis of
their religion."
"We believe this is an issue of the utmost importance and we're
confident members of Congress will want to examine this transaction
and relationship very closely, as they should," said Sekulow.
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