Saudi Arabia’s King Salman was appointed to the UN Human Rights Council. Now, have you stopped and asked yourself how it all happened? How this merciless King from a ruthless nation where a 17-year-old protester, Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, is arrested, tortured and without trial is sentenced to crucifixion for protesting against the government? A nation where a blogger, father of three, exercising his right of freedom of speech is sentenced to 1,000 lashes in a public square and 10 years in prison? How a King from a nation where at least two people are beheaded every single day, is the new Human Rights Panellist?
Well let’s start with the obvious: Money, secret deals and weapons.
According to an article by the Financial Times – published on Oct 1 2015:
“The UK initiated a secret deal with Saudi Arabia to ensure both states were elected to the UN human rights council, according to leaked diplomatic cables that have added to criticism of Britain’s relationship with the kingdom. The UK and Saudi Arabia were subsequently elected to the 47-member council for three-year terms running until the end of 2016.”
When Jon Snow confronted UK Prime Minister David Cameron on the reason why this deal was made between the UK and the Saudis, and where he stood in regards to the beheading and crucifixion of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, he said:
“We have a relationship with Saudi Arabia and if you want to know why I’ll tell you why. It is because we receive from them important intelligence and security information that keeps us safe.”
But is that all? Well, not really. That same Financial Times article tells us a different story:
“Saudi Arabia was the UK’s biggest export market for arms sales last year, according to data collated by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), a London-based non-governmental organisation. It estimates that arms export licences to the kingdom under the coalition government of 2010-2015 totalled nearly £4bn. The UK was the largest supplier of arms to Saudi Arabia between 2010 and 2014, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.”
The idea that these two kingdoms are making decisions behind close doors that will affect a large quantity of people in an inhumane way, only for profit is beyond ridiculous. The UN was created to be a neutral authority figure to endorse international co-operation, to take care of people’s needs and rights no matter what. And still, the same UN is the stage to a show of corruption, secret deals and outrageous amounts of profit. Saudi Arabia is going to bed with UK in an opportunity to benefit itself and records show they most likely won’t think twice before getting under the covers with another country, even if it means putting us in harm’s ways.
If a cold blooded man such as King Salman is the face and voice for Human Rights across the planet, can we really trust that UN leaders will be there to fight for our rights?