Newcastle’s new council leader has agreed to meet with human rights activists from Saudi Arabia.
Karen Kilgour confirmed that she would sit down with representatives from human rights organisation ALQST, which has been lobbying the council over the city’s ties to the Gulf state following the Saudi Public Investment Fund-led takeover of Newcastle United in 2021.
Saudi Arabia has been accused of “trying to ‘sportswash’ its reputation and divert attention from human rights abuses, while Newcastle City Council itself has come under fire for seeking closer links to and investment from the Middle East nation since the change of ownership at St James’ Park.”
The Chronicle reported that Councillor Kilgour believes the Saudi government and Newcastle United are two separate entities.
She said: “the two are entirely different entities and it is unfair that the football club bears the brunt of accusations levelled at the Saudi government.” In response, a spokesperson from NUFCFAS stated that “the club is owned by the Saudi state, and they are using it as a tool for sports washing, e.g. Saudi internationals at SJP, Noon etc”.
Leaked WhatsApp messages
In October, the Guardian reported that that leaked WhatsApp messages from former Newcastle United board member Amanda Staveley suggested that Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman was heavily involved in Newcastle takeover.
In June of this year, it was reported by the BBC that workers at Newcastle United sponsor Noon had experienced “conditions that may amount to forced labour”. According to research by Equidem: “people employed by the online retailer in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) claimed they had been subjected to intimidation and threats, withholding of wages and “abusive” conditions.” Newcastle City Council has a policy on modern day slavery.
“Abhorrent” human rights abuses condemned
Councillor Kilgour condemned “abhorrent” human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia but went on to say that it was unfair for NUFC fans to be held “somehow responsible”. A spokesperson for NUFCFAS responded by asking, “when have we ever said that? We are asking that political reps and yes fans make good on pre-takeover commitments to ‘keep talking about human rights”.
According to Councillor Kilgour, “it is in Westminster where the influence lies to impact on domestic policy in Saudi Arabia, not here in Newcastle Civic Centre”.
One spokesperson from NUFCFAS responded by asking, why it is then that the council have policies on human rights, commemorate the genocide in Rwanda and is a city of sanctuary, while another added “I don’t see why they can implement a city of sanctuary strategy that is independent of government policy, but can’t do the same here.”
Given the recent news from the city council and its relationship with the Saudi PIF, Karen Kilgour seems to have done the right thing in agreeing to meet with representatives from ALQST. There seems to be much to discuss.
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