The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has introduced a bill that would punish Saudi Arabia for human rights violations, but does not block arms sales to the kingdom.

Republican James Risch of Idaho says the bipartisan Saudi Arabia Diplomatic Review Act calls for a comprehensive look at U.S.-Saudi relations and holds members of the royal family accountable for human rights abuses — including journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death, women's rights violations, and coalition airstrikes in Yemen that have killed thousands of civilians.

"It is the sense of Congress that since the promotion of Mohammed bin Salman to the position of Crown Prince with significant authorities over foreign and domestic affairs ... Saudi Arabia has demonstrated increasingly erratic and disturbing conduct," the bill states.

It asks President Donald Trump to deny or revoke visas for members of the royal family until its human rights record improves.

But to assure Trump's signature, the bill would not stop U.S. arms sales to the Saudis.

Source : VOA