Saudi Arabia and human rights

Saudi Arabia is one of the world's most authoritarian regimes. Last month it executed seven prisoners without fair trial and after allegations of torture.

Yet our government is more concerned about pushing arms sales than it is about speaking out on human rights.

• At the same time that those seven men were being executed in Saudi Arabia, a Saudi delegation was attending the Security & Policing exhibition in the UK – an event where sniper rifles, crowd control equipment and surveillance technology were being promoted.
• Last month Prince Charles was in the country to help 'enhance military links', links which include helping secure a contract for BAE's Eurofighter. Two years before, Saudi Arabia was using BAE armoured vehicles to support the violent suppression of protest in Bahrain. 

The promotion of arms sales send the wrong message: one that condones instead of condemns human rights abuses, that legitimises authoritarian regimes and demoralises those struggling for democracy.

Please write to your MP to express your concerns about the UK promotion of weapons sales instead of human rights.