Arms trade activists call for Formula One to Put the Brakes on Saudi
London Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) group is calling for Formula One to put the brakes on the Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia on December 5th, because of the Kingdom’s blood stained human rights record.
CAAT campaigns to end the use of military and security equipment against civilian populations. It says Saudi Arabia misuses weapons and military equipment in attacks that kill and maim civilians – including children – in Yemen. It wants organisers to quit holding international sports fixtures in Saudi because:
- Since 2015 the Saudi led intervention in Yemen has caused the deaths of more than 6,000 civilians.
- Airstrikes by the Saudi led coalition have hit hospitals, schools and markets in Yemen. In 2018 a bus filled with children was bombed, killing at least 26 children.
- Since 2015 Saudi Arabia has purchased £20 billion worth of military equipment from the UK alone.
On November 2nd 2021 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was given two Spoilers of Peace awards for Committing Atrocities and Severe Rights Violations, and Violations against Children (https://caat.org.uk/news/boris-johnson-mohammed-bin-salman-named-two-of-the-top-spoilers-of-peace-in-yemen/).
London CAAT says that by hosting events like the Formula One Grand Prix, Saudi Arabia is able to distract from its appalling human rights record and ensure continued support from governments like the UK and USA. They are calling on the Formula One leadership to denounce Saudi Arabia’s undeniably dire human rights record and pledge to not hold further races in the Kingdom whilst its bombardment of Yemeni civilians continues.
London CAAT member Ian Pocock says:
“Fans, sportspeople, sponsors and other stakeholders are becoming much more sensitive to the ethical standards of the brands they support. We recognise that F1 provides thrilling entertainment as well as economic benefits. But we want this to be the very last time F1 is hosted in Saudi Arabia whilst the Kingdom continues to abuse the human rights of innocent civilian families in Yemen.”
CAAT supporter Adhiyan Jeevathol says:
“I’m a huge F1 fan but the thought of Saudi bombs dropping on defenceless civilians in Yemen makes me feel sick. I don’t want my favourite sport to be tarnished by a partnership with a regime that bombs innocent children and abuses the human rights of its own citizens, including women, journalists and political dissidents.”
London CAAT will be posting a series of social media infographics on @londoncaat and facebook.com/londoncaat/ in the run up to the grand prix, starting on November 25th. Fans can use #PutTheBrakesOnSaudi to air their views about the Saudi Grand Prix on social media.
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For more information on the Saudi-led attacks on Yemen visit: https://caat.org.uk/data/countries/saudi-arabia.