Why Isn't Saudi Embassy Suing U.S. Media Over Marathon Defamations?

Why Isn't Saudi Embassy Suing U.S. Media Over Marathon Defamations?

By Abdelaziz al-Suwayed

April 21, 2013
Translated by Talei Lakeland,Worldmeets.US 

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-Arabiya TV 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!

Saudi Arabia - Dar Al-Hayat - Original Article (Arabic)

Source: Worldmeets.US