David Cameron defends human rights ‘deal’ with Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister David Cameron has been challenged over an alleged ādealā that saw Saudi Arabia join and head up the UNās Human Rights Council.
The Saudi kingdom is is one of the most repressive regimes in the world, with gay people facing the death penalty, women facing legal discrimination, and extreme curbs on free speech.
However, despite its poor rights record, the United Nations elected Saudi Arabiaās ambassador Faisal bin Hassan Trad to chair the UN Human Rights Council last month, after they were allowed to join the Council last year.
Activists attacked the āscandalousā appointment ā but David Cameron has defended the UKās reputation over an alleged ādealā with the country to secure a seat.
In a sit-down interview with Jon Snow on Channel 4 News, the news anchor challenged him over links with Saudi Arabia.
Mr Snow asked: āThatās curious, because we in November did a deal with the Saudis that we would back them joining the human rights council of the United Nations, providing they backed us. Now this sounds a bit squalid for one of the most human rights abusing regimes on earth.ā
The Conservative PM replied: ā Saudi Arabia is a member of the United Nations but we completely disagree with them.
āWe completely disagree with them about their punishment routines, about the death penalty, about those issues.ā
Mr Snow hit back: āWhy did we do this deal then? Theyāre not the right sort of people to be doing any sort of deal on human rights.ā
Will David Cameron intervene in the case of Saudi boy Ali Mohammed al-Nimr? @JonSnowc4 asks https://t.co/O2x1vcP8Pf
ā Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) October 6, 2015
When Mr Cameron said āWe totally oppose their record in this areaā, the news anchor retorted: āBut why did we do it?ā
The PM said: āWe have a relationship with Saudi Arabia, and if you want to know why, Iāll tell you why. Itās because we recieve from them very important intelligence and security information that keeps us safe.ā
