Under the title Human Rights in Saudi Arabia: Beyond Sports, the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights held its fourth annual conference for victims of Saudi violations.
The conference, held on December 11 and 12, 2023, hosted several researchers, activists, specialists, and families of victims of violations, and was moderated by human rights defender, lawyer Hala Ahed.
The conference opened with a speech from the President of ESOHR, Ali Adubaisi, who clarified that the fervent sports activity in Saudi Arabia is noteworthy, especially considering the current situation in the country. He pointed out that to understand the underlying aspects of sports in Saudi Arabia, we need to comprehend the goals of the ruling regimes, which provides a key to understanding the situation.
Adubaisi explained that during the era of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, violations have increased, including unprecedented torture of women. He mentioned the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which led to international condemnation, but unfortunately, the situation did not improve. He pointed out that bin Salman believes that violations should be concealed under the guise of sports, and thus pure political will dictates the sports scene. Enormous investments, representing the people's wealth, are poured into this without accountability, and it's used for deception. Adubaisi emphasized that the stance is not against the sports sector but against its exploitation for ulterior motives.
First day:
Professor and researcher Mohammed Nachtoui stated in his speech that some consider sports as an escape from politics, but the cloak of sports conceals the shirt of politics. He emphasized that today, the intertwining of sports and politics has become transparent and apparent in Gulf countries. Despite some insisting on separating sports achievements from politics, it is evident that sports remains intertwined with politics.
Nachtoui explained that sports have been a tool in the Cold War, citing the example of the United States calling for a boycott of the Olympic Games in Moscow. Thus, the relationship between sports and politics has always been present, but what has changed is the form of that relationship. He also highlighted that when former French President Jacques Chirac wanted to tour Latin American countries, he had the idea of bringing the famous footballer Michel Platini, illustrating how sports have become a form of positive social interaction, easing tensions between nations. This represents a form of diplomacy.
In addition, according to Nachtaoui, one of the roles that sports can play is to capture the minds of the masses, as political power is opportunistic, turning it into soft power and a mechanism to distract the masses and manipulate their minds.
Nasser Al-Qarni, the son of the threatened preacher Awad Al-Qarni, stated that his elderly father, who was prevented from traveling by Saudi Arabia, was later arrested at night after his home was raided. His father faces charges that can hardly be described as dangerous, and he is currently being threatened with death. Nasser explained that since his father's arrest, their family's life has come to a standstill, and they are aware of the violations he is facing in prison.
Al-Qarni explained that if he had not attended the trial sessions, he would not have believed that the Public Prosecution was demanding his death only because of his tweets and WhatsApp groups, and he saw that he felt the washing practiced by the regime when he saw a player posing with those responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Abdullah Al-Jariwi, the monitoring officer at the QST Organization, pointed out that the NEOM project is part of the Public Investment Fund directly associated with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He explained that this project is being constructed on the Red Sea coast, an environmentally beautiful area where tribes, including the Huwaitat, lived. They were surprised by the fund seizing their lands and faced eviction. Despite the rejection, Saudi Arabia used raids and excessive force, without providing compensation. Following the rejection, the authorities carried out numerous arrests, with QST documenting 47 arrests and sentences totalling nearly 50 years, including 5 documented death sentences. Additionally, military personnel were arrested, possibly facing charges of high treason.
Al-Jariwi explained that Saudi Arabia intends to host the Winter Games in 2027 on the lands of NEOM, whose people were displaced and subjected to various types of violations.
Researcher at Human Rights Watch, Joy Shea, pointed out that the organization's research found a connection between the Public Investment Fund and violations, linking them to American projects. She explained that the fund is expanding its ties with the U.S. economy in sports and technology. She emphasized that there are governance rules governing any investment fund, but the analysis suggests that Mohammed bin Salman could circumvent them.
Shea confirmed that the Public Investment Fund increased human rights violations, especially since 2017, with a general increase in arrests and property seizures. She also pointed out that the agreement between the investment fund and the U.S. Professional Golfers' Association is a cause for concern, as monopolizing players and completely controlling a sport is worrisome. She emphasized that, from a legal perspective, there should be consideration of how to address sports washing and its strategies through the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
As part of the Play the Game initiative, researcher Stanis Elsborg recently analyzed Saudi sports investments. One conclusion emphasized that the Saudi Public Investment Fund is actively involved in the sports world, with direct sponsorship of 140 sports companies. He pointed out that Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, has 26 sponsorships in the sports industry.
He explained that the problem lies in countries like Saudi Arabia, where the same individuals who manage the state also oversee sports. For instance, Yasser Al-Rumayyan, owner of the Newcastle United football team, serves as the chairman of the Public Investment Fund and the head of the World Golf Leagues. This raises questions about his motivations for involvement in sports and ownership of golf leagues. Elsborg clarified that the Saudi Minister of Sports is also engaged in sports investments, holding the position of Chairman of the Olympic Committee, a role that ideally should not be held by political figures like ministers. Princess Reema bint Bandar, a member of the Saudi Olympic Committee and Saudi Ambassador to the United States, is also attempting to pave the way for Saudi policies in the world of sports.
From the Bird Institute for Human Rights, Ahmed Al-Wadaei pointed out that those who claim Bahrain hosting Formula 1 is an investment for Bahrain are not telling the truth. Regardless of the amount spent on sports, the real goal is to attract audiences and communities. He explained that when we talk about hundreds of thousands of followers in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, there is a ready audience. Therefore, this is a platform to influence sports and also a platform to convey any message or change any image.
Al-Wadaei considered it necessary to question whether spending millions on Cristiano Ronaldo or investing directly in Saudi sports is worthwhile. He noted that what confirms the use of sports is the buzz generated by deals, considering that in countries where accountability is lacking, it is impossible to know if the investment is truly beneficial.
Second Day:
The second day of the conference was opened by the director, Hala Aahed, with a speech from researcher and doctor Christian Gläßel. He argued that sporting events in oppressive and authoritarian regimes cost lives and are propelled by the people. He pointed out that there is a specific pattern under authoritarian rule, where repression intensifies in the weeks leading up to major sporting events. Gläßel believed that rulers tried to appear as peacemakers by hosting major sports events, attempting to divert attention from citizens and focus it on the events themselves.
Christian Gläßel referred to a survey on how hosting sports events changes public perception, using the example of Qatar hosting the World Cup. The sample noticed a change in Qatar's image compared to before the World Cup, with increased hostility towards media reporting on violations. He pointed out that major sporting events in oppressive countries put people at risk, and Western media often participates in image laundering.
The Pakistani citizen, Mohamad Imran, shared the story of his brother Hafiz, who was arrested by Saudi Arabia in April 2023 and disappeared involuntarily. His family had no information about his whereabouts or the reason for his arrest, despite contacting the Pakistani embassy and the Saudi Human Rights Commission. After 5 months of disappearance, he called the family, stating that he should be released in a month, but he remained arbitrarily detained without facing any charges.
Andrew Page, a member of the Newcastle United Supporters' Association, pointed out that Saudi Arabia's investment in the Newcastle club has been enormous for the city, the club, and the region. Therefore, it is not ordinary for a group of fans to launch a significant campaign to undo this deal. Page explained that he has been following the club's matches since birth, and he noticed the difference since Saudi Arabia took over. The question arises: why is there so much support from politicians and some individuals in the local community?
Page stressed that the association has organized several public events, interviews, publications, and campaigns on social media, and is continuing to do so because it rejects the club and the city being used to support the regime in Saudi Arabia.
Maha Al-Qahtani, the wife of human rights defender Muhammad Al-Qahtani, made an intervention in which she explained that it was the first time she spoke publicly after her family became distressed after her husband disappeared 13 months ago.
Al-Qahtani mentioned that since October 2022, she has been unable to communicate with her husband. Despite reaching out to various authorities, including the prison administration, the king, and the crown prince, she has not received any response and has even faced threats. She wonders what she should do to find out her husband's whereabouts and highlighted the escalating suffering of her family.
The Head of Communications at Reprieve Purcell mentioned that he began working on the sports washing file since 2020, focusing on Bahrain. They corresponded with sports entities on behalf of victims facing threats of execution. They also reached out to famous players who visited Saudi Arabia, urging them to speak out about the victims in Saudi Arabia.
Purcell explained that this strategy requires players to use their platforms to demand human rights, and unfortunately, it seems that Saudi Arabia is trying to impose conditions of secrecy and silence on them.
From Amnesty Norway, Frank Tangen noted that despite FIFA claiming to be democratic, it did not respond to accusations of neglecting human rights. He explained that in 2022, the head of the Norwegian Football Federation criticized human rights violations in Qatar, joining those who called for boycotting the World Cup in Qatar and holding FIFA accountable.
He questioned whether granting Saudi Arabia the right to host the World Cup means that human rights violations in Saudi Arabia will also be ignored. He emphasized that there is a proposal to demand host countries to commit to human rights. In the context of sports investments and the recruitment of players, this proposal might accelerate the commitment of countries to human rights.
He pointed to several issues that need to be addressed, including the death penalty, the treatment of foreign workers, and stopping the forced displacement of citizens. He considered that there is an upcoming opportunity for football associations due to Saudi Arabia hosting the World Cup, urging sports bodies to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia regarding human rights.
Director of Strategic Litigation at the Arab Council, Al-Kilani Almoutassim, pointed out that, through monitoring in Saudi Arabia, there are widespread restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression and a failure to follow the principles of fair trials.
He emphasized that there should be a balance between business and human rights, but Saudi Arabia is making investments to cover up violations and improve its image. He considered that supporting victims in the current situation involves psychological and legal support, enhancing their access to justice systems, and collaborating with human rights organizations.
He stressed that by filing lawsuits, connections can be made between Saudi investments in European countries, for example, and the victims, using universal jurisdiction. He pointed out that for dual nationals among the victims or perpetrators, after determining the crime, the jurisdiction of these countries can be considered for possible litigation. He also considered that international mechanisms associated with the United Nations should not be neglected, as they send permanent recommendations and embarrass the delegates of countries due to their violations.
Among the testimonies presented was that of Youssef Al-Rabeh, the uncle of the young man Manhal Al-Rabeh, who was executed in 2023. Youssef explained that Manhal was arrested at school, where he lived because his father was a school guard. The entire family, including the father, the wife, their disabled daughter Rahma, Manhal, and his younger brother Jaber, was arrested. Youssef confirmed that Manhal was tortured and threatened to the extent that his mother did not recognize him due to what he endured in prison. Youssef emphasized that Saudi Arabia engages in widespread arbitrary detention, issuing and executing judgments without notifying the family. He highlighted that his family was deprived of holding a mourning ceremony and receiving Manhal's body.
Journalist Karim Zidan pointed out that Saudi Arabia uses sports as a tool of power, and Mohammed bin Salman considers sports as a means to attract investment. Unfortunately, sports journalists rarely cover human rights issues associated with sports authorities or investments. Zidan explained that human rights violations are not typically part of the presumed narrative of sports stories. He concluded that Saudi Arabia will leave its legacy in sports and exploit it to restructure power globally, emphasizing the need to better connect sports and human rights.
The conference concluded with a closing statement from Ali Al-Dubisi, the head of the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, thanking all participants despite the challenges they face. He indicated that the organization will continue to work on confronting sports washing through all available means, considering the conference as a foundation for this work.