Saudi flag and separate NUFC image
Separate photos from Shutterstock
Five years ago this month, on 7 October 2021, Newcastle United was taken over by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). At the time, concerns were raised by commentators, ex-players such as Alan Shearer and local politicians about the appalling human rights record of the regime in Riyadh. Many promised to keep an eye on what was happening in Saudi Arabia and speak out about any abuses of human rights there.
Since then, however, there has been a lack of substantial discussion in and around Newcastle United about the human rights record of the Saudi regime. So, does this mean that, as some hoped at the time of the takeover, the regime taking over Newcastle United would lead to the kingdom having a better human rights record and an improved life for so many oppressed people living there?
Well, not exactly. Indeed, here are just a small selection of the appalling human rights violations reported during the five years since the takeover.
2021
In October 2021, the same month as the takeover at St James’ Park, it was reported that cleric Musa al-Qarni had been attacked and killed in detention by another inmate in his cell in Dhahban prison near Jeddah.
According to sources, his face, skull and ribs were smashed and fractured, and he suffered a brain haemorrhage. It was noted that the authorities had failed to carry out an effective investigation into his death.
It was reported on 1 December 2021 that Saudi Arabia had used “incentives and threats” as part of a lobbying campaign to shut down a United Nations investigation into human rights violations committed by all sides in the Yemen conflict, according to sources with close knowledge of the matter.
The report noted that the Saudi effort had ultimately succeeded when the UN Human Rights Council voted in October against extending the independent war crimes investigation. The vote marked the first defeat of a resolution in the Geneva body’s 15-year history.
2022
On 4 March 2022, Human Rights Watch reported that a Saudi man who had been 14 at the time of his alleged crime, and whose previous death sentence had been overturned by the Saudi Supreme Court, had been sentenced to death again on 2 March by a lower criminal court.
Human Rights Watch said the ruling flouted the international ban on the use of the death penalty for crimes committed by children, as well as Saudi authorities’ own stated commitments concerning child offenders.
Eight days later, it was widely reported, including by the BBC, that Saudi Arabia had executed 81 men in one day. Human rights organisations said many defendants did not receive fair trials, an allegation rejected by the Saudi government.
On 17 August, it was reported that Saudi Arabia had sentenced Leeds University student Salma al-Shehab to 34 years in prison because of her Twitter activity and following dissident activists. She had also posted tweets concerning women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Her sentence was subsequently reduced to 27 years in 2023.
It was reported by BBC News on 16 October 2022 that Saad Ibrahim Almadi, 72, who had dual US and Saudi citizenship, had been sentenced to 16 years in prison over tweets critical of the Saudi government. His sentence was subsequently increased to 19 years.
On 22 November, it was reported that Saudi Arabia had executed 17 people in just 12 days. The executions were reported to have been for drug and contraband offences. This was despite previous assurances from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the use of the death penalty would be curbed.
2023
In February, Middle East Eye reported that nearly 50 tribespeople from the Howeitat tribe had been jailed for resisting displacement to make way for the NEOM project.
Meanwhile, on 3 December, the i ran a story entitled “The women fleeing oppression in Saudi Arabia for the West”.
The story concerned a woman who now calls herself Robyn. She said: “I tried to leave my whole life. From a really young age I felt that this place is a time bomb. I was counting the days, feeling in constant danger, feeling a constant threat over my life. And when I was 15, I decided I’m going to make a plan to leave.”
2024
On 2 January, Voice of America reported that Saudi Arabia had executed 170 people in 2023, including four on New Year’s Eve, an increase on the previous year according to an AFP tally based on announcements by Saudi authorities.
This compared with 147 executions in 2022. A record 187 executions had taken place in the kingdom in 2019.
On 11 January, Human Rights Watch released its annual report on Saudi Arabia. It said that killings by Saudi Arabian forces of at least hundreds of Ethiopian migrants and asylum seekers at the Yemen-Saudi border may amount to crimes against humanity.
It also reported that Saudi authorities had arrested peaceful dissidents, public intellectuals and human rights activists, and sentenced people to decades-long prison terms or death sentences for social media posts. It further said abusive practices in detention centres, including torture and ill-treatment, prolonged arbitrary detention and asset confiscation without clear legal process, remained widespread. Human Rights Watch also said there had been no accountability for Saudi Arabia’s role in apparent war crimes in Yemen.
On 27 February, Middle East Eye reported that seven Saudi men had been executed on Tuesday 27 February. It was reported to be the highest number put to death in one day since 81 people were executed in March 2022.
On 1 May, the BBC reported that Saudi fitness instructor and women’s rights activist Manahel al-Otaibi had been sentenced to 11 years in prison following a secret trial. Human rights organisations said the case related to her clothing choices and her expression of views online. The Saudi authorities said she had been convicted of terrorism-related offences.
2025
On 6 January, it was reported by Middle East Eye that 2024 had seen a massive rise in the number of executions in Saudi Arabia.
The European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR) tracked 345 executions in 2024, up from 172 in 2023, according to the report. This equated to more than one execution a day.
It was reported on 15 July that another young person had been executed in Saudi Arabia, and that his body had subsequently been withheld.
Al-Alawi, a 27-year-old resident of Al-Shohada city in Qatif, had been sentenced to death on charges of “terrorism and threatening national security”. Human rights organisations disputed the charges, arguing that they were politically motivated and that the judicial process had lacked basic fair-trial guarantees.
2026
It was reported on 2 January that Saudi Arabia had executed at least 356 people in 2025, according to figures compiled from official announcements. This set a new annual record for executions in the country.
In February, the annual report on human rights compiled by ALQST was released. Its executive summary said:
“This year’s report is a reminder that, even as Saudi Arabia increasingly makes international headlines for its expanding global influence, ambitious mega-projects, and role in hosting high-profile sporting events, the reality behind this glittering façade continues to be one in which many citizens and residents endure harsh repression and their basic rights are denied.”
Time to speak out
Despite some changes and reforms in Saudi Arabia, there has been little evidence of a fundamental improvement in the country’s human rights record since the takeover five years ago.
Isn’t it now time for people in and around Newcastle, a city with a proud record of solidarity, tolerance and fairness, to speak out more about their connection with such a controversial regime?
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Professor Donna Chambers, courtesy of NEARC (1)
Professor Donna Chambers, courtesy of NEARC (1)
Rohingya Genocide Remembrance event in Newcastle
Rohingya Genocide Remembrance event in Newcastle