The LIV Golf makes its first stop in the United States this week. The Saudi-funded series will play a tournament.
The match will hold next week at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, west of Portland.
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The mayor of North Plains, and those of nearby towns, have expressed their concerns to the club’s owner, Escalante Golf.
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Oregon Senator Ron Wyden is against holding the tournament. Some club members are also uncomfortable with the situation.
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They cite human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. It includes the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Jamal Khashoggi was killed in his country’s consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
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But in Oregon, there is also anger surrounding a crime that affects the population more. The hit-and-run caused the death of 15-year-old Fallon Smart in 2016.
The culprit was a Saudi student named Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah. He was repatriated by Saudi Arabia even before facing murder charges against him.
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His country helped him forge a fake passport and provided him with a private jet to escape.
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“Fallon Smart was killed very close to my home southeast of Portland. It’s wrong to remain silent while Saudi Arabia is trying to whitewash criminals.
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The people of Oregon want justice,” said Senator Wyden.
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Authorities are concerned about the possibility of protests in North Plains. It is a small town of only 3400 people.
Spectators present at the tournament are prohibited from political demonstrations.
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“We oppose this event because it is sponsored by a repressive government. Their examples of human rights violations are well documented.
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We refuse to support these abuses by allowing a Saudi-funded organization to play at home.
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