Stand With ACLJ: Tell Delta to Cut Ties With Saudis

I want to bring you up to date on a very important issue we have been working on through the weekend.

Late last week, we reported to you about the troubling business alliance between Delta Air Lines and Saudi Arabian Airlines, which is owned by the Saudi government - a government that embraces discriminatory policies targeting religion, ethnicity, and gender.

We have mobilized both legal and legislative teams and are now requesting that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) get involved, and that Congress launch an investigation of its own into this troubling deal.

For Delta to form a business relationship with a country that has a disturbing record of human rights violations is not only problematic, but warrants further scrutiny from the federal government and Congress.

Delta says it does not discriminate in its business practices, but then says it cannot control what other nations do. Delta can't have it both ways. If you choose to do business with a government that discriminates on the basis of religion, ethnicity, and gender - you simply cannot brush it aside.

Delta announced the partnership with Saudi Arabian Airlines in January and issued this release: "We are honored that Saudi Arabian has chosen to link its future growth and success with Delta and our SkyTeam partners, while bringing our alliance greater access to destinations across the Middle East."

Under this new alliance, there is real concern that American Jews will be prohibited from flying into the country. Even non-Jews with an Israeli stamp in their passport could be targeted. And, of course, U.S. citizens who are Christian are in the danger zone as well, often facing blatant discrimination in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia where Sharia Law is embraced.

Late last week, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) sent a letter to the FAA requesting a probe into this matter "to determine whether Delta Airlines violated U.S. law or regulation and to ensure no U.S. citizen is denied their right to fly solely on the basis of their religion."

We believe this is an issue of the utmost importance and we're confident members of Congress will want to examine this transaction and relationship very closely, as they should.

In addition to its demand that Delta cut ties with the Saudis, we are launching a national petition campaign - urging thousands of Americans to express their concerns about the Delta/Saudi alliance.

Please add your name here.

Delta can do the right thing. It should cancel this business relationship with the Saudis and it should do it now.