[EthicalOil.org] ran a tough-talking ad campaign on Oprah Winfrey Network Canada in August that has a woman announcer denounce Saudi oil imports: “We bankrolled a state that doesn’t allow women to drive, doesn’t allow them to leave their homes or work without their male guardian’s permission and a state where a woman’s testimony only accounts for half of a man’s.
“Why are we paying their bills and funding their oppression?” the announcer then asks.
The ads push energy from Alberta’s oilsands as an ethical alternative.
Velshi says the Television Bureau of Canada’s advertising review and clearance service has informed him that it has received a cease and desist letter from lawyers for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia demanding approval for ethicaloil.org’s ad be withdrawn.
Velshi says the lawyers have refused to disclose the letter to him or to list Riyadh’s concerns.
“So all we all we know is Saudi Arabia has hired a law firm to try to censor what can appear on our television screens and that’s an outrage,” said Velshi.
A lawsuit has been issued against Saudi Arabia over allegations that it provided funding to al Qaeda, making the 9/11 attacks possible. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a Lloyds syndicate insurer, seeks $215 million to cover insurance claims it paid out.
British insurer Lloyd’s of London syndicate 3500 has filed a court case against Saudi Arabia to recover the $215 million it paid out in insurance settlements relating to the 9/11 attacks. The insurance company claims that al Qaeda was directly funded by Saudi groups who in turn should bear the responsibility of meeting the costs.