Why Isn't Saudi Embassy Suing U.S. Media Over Marathon Defamations? (Dar
al-Hayat, Saudi Arabia)
"What's
stopping the Saudi Embassy in Washington from filing a lawsuit against the
American newspaper that fabricated reports that a Saudi citizen was suspected
of involvement in the Boston bombings? ... If the Saudi Foreign Ministry fails
to act or respond to this demand, which I consider to be one of the entire
nation, what is to stop us from launching a public campaign to raise money to hire
a respected U.S. law firm to defend us against such defamation and incitement
of hatred toward us?"
Student Abdul al-Harbi, injured in the Boston Marathon attack, with Saudi Consul General Azam Al-Qain: Now that al-Harbi has been cleared of all charges, should U.S. media that jumped the gun to accuse him of being involved be sued?
Every embassy has its own legal department and dealings with
law firms. And I would imagine that in the case of the Saudi Embassy in
Washington, this is more the case than for many others. So what's stopping the
Saudi Embassy in Washington from filing a lawsuit against the American
newspaper that fabricated reports that a Saudi citizen was suspected of
involvement in the Boston bombings [The
New York Post], something that will doubtless have damaging
implications for Saudis and Muslims in the United States and the rest of the
world?
I don't know whether there is some kind of hurdle here, or
whether the ambassador or Foreign Ministry needs to take the initiative. The
same applies to the comments of an American TV analyst,
who allegedly incited hatred toward Saudi citizens on social media sites.
If the allegations are true, what's stopping him from being sued? Isn't the
role of an embassy about more than just stamping visas and following up on the
issues concerning everyday citizens? This issue undermines all Saudis, particularly
as we have yet to recover from the fallout from the events of September 11. Looked
at from another point of view, this might be considered a public relations
campaign that has a deeper meaning than most others.
If the Saudi Foreign Ministry fails to act or respond to
this demand, which I consider to be one of the entire nation, what is to stop
us from launching a public campaign to raise money to hire a respected U.S. law
firm to defend us against such defamation and incitement of hatred toward us?
We have tens of thousands of students studying in America, both male and
female, who may have been exposed to such negative treatment.
If such a thing were to happen to a Westerner in an Arab
country, the relevant embassy would immediately react - whether the person in
question was guilty or not. For reasons that are clear to the discerning reader,
I know this comparison is faulty [due to the difference in political influence].
But the fact remains that Saudi Arabia is not utilizing the influence that it
does have!
And the Saudi media is not without fault. Would it really
hurt Al-ArabiyaTV to apologize for the mistake it
made rushing to quote an unreliable source? Doesn't it realize that it has
more to lose by not apologizing?! Especially since there is a ready
justification that can be easily understood, albeit reluctantly, considering the
way the media world works today?
The one positive thing about this episode is that from now
on, no doubt will be left in the mind of anyone in an Arab country who follows
Al-Arabiya that it is a private channel - and nothing more!
