Human rights organizations are urging a UK delegation visiting Saudi Arabia to press Saudi leaders regarding a BBC report revealing that Saudi forces were instructed to use lethal force for the development of a futuristic city, Neom’s The Line, during an event hosted by the UK in Riyadh.
The event, titled “Great Futures,” features speakers such as footballer Rio Ferdinand, former minister Jo Johnson, and a British Airways executive. It aims to highlight opportunities for UK businesses in Saudi Arabia and kickstart a year-long partnership promoting trade, tourism, and education between the two countries.
Neom, particularly The Line, is showcased as a significant business opportunity for UK firms, with images of the mirrored city prominently displayed on the Department for Business and Trade’s website advertising the event.
According to a recent BBC investigation, former intelligence officer Colonel Rabih Alenezi revealed that he was ordered to forcibly evict villagers from a tribe in Saudi Arabia to make way for The Line, resulting in one villager being shot and killed for protesting against the eviction. While Saudi state security claimed the individual had opened fire on security forces, human rights organizations and the UN assert that he was killed for resisting eviction.
Both the Saudi government and Neom management declined to comment on the findings of the BBC investigation.
Amnesty International condemned the repression associated with such futuristic projects, emphasizing that any business contributing to human rights violations is in violation of international law.
Similarly, UK-based human rights group ALQST criticized the UK for appearing to turn a blind eye to Saudi abuses, suggesting that companies working on Neom could demand the release of detained individuals as a condition for their involvement.
While many high-profile speakers participating in the event did not respond to inquiries from the BBC, those who did emphasized the importance of showcasing and promoting British business, culture, and society.
In response, a spokesperson for the UK government stated that while the UK values its national security and economic interests in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, it does not shy away from addressing human rights concerns and regularly raises such issues with Saudi authorities when necessary.
