CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE DENOUNCES THE DISCRIMINATORY AND VIOLENT TREATMENT OF EMAN AL-OBEIDY

March 30, 2011

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee on Transportation Security and recent member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned the discriminatory and violent treatment of Eman al-Obeidy.  Eman al-Obeidy recently reported that she had been raped by members of the Qaddafi regime.  Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee issued the following statement regarding the issue:

“This violent sexual assault must be investigated, and Ms. Al-Obeidy’s safety must be ensured.  This brutal crime is further evidence of the cruelty of Colonel Qaddafi’s regime.  In addition, to killing thousands of innocent civilians, the Libyan government is also allowing violent discriminatory actions to be freely committed against the women of Libya.  This is unacceptable, and is strong evidence that humanitarian efforts must be increased.  I call on the Allied Nations to ensure Ms. Al-Obeidy’s safe passage out of Libya.  Further, I call on the United Nations to condemn these actions, and work to prevent their future occurrence. 

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