Saudi Arabia

UK’s utmost hypocrisy in Saudi Arabia

British Prime Minister has apparently forgotten his claptrap about human rights and democracy after he held talks with the most authoritarian regime to boost Britain’s political influence and arms contracts.

Right after the British royal family accepted the lavish sets of jewels given by the despot Bahraini regime and endorsed the kingdom’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, David Cameron arrived in Saudi Arabia, turning a blind eye to the surprising disrespect for the basic human rights in the country to increase bilateral trade with the absolute monarchy.

Cameron held talks with King Abdullah during his one-day visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh in order to “strengthen co-operation” with the oil-rich country and advance UK government’s interests in the Middle East on a range of issues such as energy security and political reform.

The kingdom has been a vital trading partner for Britain as the bilateral ties worth £15 billion a year and the investment of the Saudi regime in Britain worth over £62 billion.

While several UK politicians and human rights group called on the PM to raise human rights issues and political reforms with the Saudi regime, it was reported that Britain would move ahead with a lucrative order for 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. It was also said that the arms contract could also include 48 more Eurofighter Jets.

Cameron also met the fanatical Wahabi Crown Prince Nayif Bin Abdul Aziz, who has been closely supporting the clerics of Saudi Arabia’s official Wahhabi school of thought, and have reportedly opposed reforms in the past.

While the UK PM was meeting the Saudi officials, Naif’s security forces clashed with the pro-democracy protesters in the Eastern Province and gunned down demonstrators, killing at least one man.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague announced that UK will support the Islamic governments elected in the wake of the Arab Spring, however Cameron visited the absolute monarchy, which was regarded as an obstacle to the Arab Spring and Islamic Awakening.

Hague also said that Britain should respect the voters’ choices made in nations that have ousted dictators, even if they were believed to be extremist by the West. This is while last year UK PM denied meeting Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood officials, branding them as being extremists.

Analysts stressed that as Britain has never had noticeable influence on Saudi’s appalling human rights record, Cameron travelled to the kingdom to persuade the regime to buy UK-made military technology, jets, training aircrafts and components for military combat vehicles.

Amnesty International urged Cameron to be “completely frank and firm” with King Abdullah about human rights concerns in the country.

The repression of peaceful protesters has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations since last November after anti-government demonstrations intensified in the kingdom opposing religious and economic discrimination in the country.

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