US Muslims ask John Kerry for protection on Mecca pilgrimage

[hrmjustin]

Lauren Markoe

(RNS) Concerned for the safety of U.S. citizens soon headed to Mecca, 27 Muslim-American groups are asking the State Department to better protect them from violence that has plagued those who have made the pilgrimage in the past.

A letter from the group sent Tuesday (Aug. 26) to Secretary of State John Kerry was prompted in part by a 2013 incident in which a group of Sunni Muslims from Australia threatened to kill and rape a group of Shiites from Michigan.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/27/u-s-muslims-ask-kerry-protection-mecca-pilgrimage/

[AtheistCrusader]

1. This article isn't really specific about what they would like.

Armed guards would be right out, especially if they were American.

All we can really do is lean on the Saudi government to ... do something. Again, not clear what they can do either. The destruction of the evidence of the last attack wouldn't have helped much after the attack itself anyway; the attack already happened.

Best we can do, as America, for these Americans on a pilgrimage, is lower our profile as a party to the violence around the middle east. Such as, send in the UN, and NOT US military in Iraq and Syria, for instance. As long as we are viewed as 'the bad guys', that is going to put Americans abroad, at risk of reprisal.

[hrmjustin]

2. I agree that our troops are a non-starter.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. It's my impression, and I could be wrong, but Saudi Arabia is already doing all it can

from a secret-police/military standpoint, not to lose control of their own populace, and follow Syria/Iraq into chaos. The Saudi royal family is not popular, nor is Mabahith and other security apparatus of their state. They rule by force, and my impression is, their hold is tenuous.

This would be low on their list of problems, day to day.


An idea that could perhaps be implemented; Sunni and Shiites Americans peacefully travelling in a large group, together. The group from Michigan last year, was singled out for apparent sectarian violence. Not just nationalism.

[hrmjustin]

4. I think no matter how much the Saudi's try there will be an attempt to attack Americans.

[okasha]

5. The most effective pressure we can exert on the Saudis

is economic. Kick the oil habit.