Show us respect or ties will suffer, Saudi ambassador tells Britain

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: Reuters

Stung by criticism in Britain of his country's human rights record, Saudi Arabia's ambassador in London threatened "potentially serious repercussions" for the two countries' relationship unless a more respectful discourse developed.

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy which has faced strong criticism from human rights groups and some western governments for its restrictive laws on political and religious expression and the status of Saudi women.

The comments by Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdulaziz come after London canceled a prison contract with Riyadh in what was widely seen as a reaction to a death penalty case and another involving an elderly Briton who faces 350 lashes.

"Over the past few weeks, there has been an alarming change in the way Saudi Arabia is discussed in Britain," the ambassador wrote in an article published on Monday by the Daily Telegraph newspaper. "It should be worrying to all those who do not want to see potentially serious repercussions that could damage the mutually beneficial strategic partnership that our countries have so long enjoyed," he wrote.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/26/us-britain-saudi-idUSKCN0SK1HV20151026

[librechik]

1. fuck you Saudi Arabia and your public beheadings--

enough outrage to give up petrol? we'll see.

[oberliner]

10. Iran executes hundreds in brutal crane hangings at mega-prison outside Tehran

At least 1,900 people have been executed in Iran since President Hassan Rouhani took office in June 2013, an NGO has warned.

Iran has one of the highest rates of executions in the world and Iran Human Rights (IHR) estimated at least 570 prisoners, 10 of whom were women, were hanged during the first half of 2015, with a rate of three executions per day. The figure has increased by 40% compared to the first half of 2014.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/iran-executes-hundreds-brutal-crane-hangings-mega-prison-outside-tehran-1508986

Seems to be a regional thing.

[librechik]

23. fuck them too. This won't happen once their social media generation takes over

and it will. (I hope)

[jtuck004]

2. You gonna let women hold office, Ambassador Creepy? n/t

[uawchild]

3. hold office? women are not allowed to drive in the Kingdom (re dictatorship) of Saudi Arabia

Talk about a great PR campaign, why it's the KINGDOM of Saudi Arabia -- not a dictatorship/oligarchy of a clan. Calling it the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plays in on our perceptions of constitutional monarchies like those in Europe.

[jtuck004]

8. I know. <g> But when dealing with a misogynistic dictatorship, one might as well go for it. n/t

[oberliner]

11. The driving thing makes no sense

I don't think that restriction exists in any other country in the world, does it?

[leveymg]

18. Saudi women also have to get their hubby or daddy's permission to hold a job or travel alone.

KSA is a paternalistic police state and a throwback to the 13th Century as far as the rights of women is concerned. It also violates international human rights and labor law in hundreds of ways.

The place is dying to be liberated from its rulers. If we were really as interested in human rights as foreign investment inflows and arms exports earnings, we would liberate them.

[Tempest]

4. If any country deserves to be invaded it's Saudi Arabia

Free up the oil and it would also serve to remove the biggest source of terrorist funding in the world.

A two-fer.

[shenmue]

5. Yep

[leveymg]

19. No invasion needed. Simply freeze the assets of the leading financiers of ISIS in KSA and GCC.

Arrest them for anti-terrorism law violations, rendition, and put them on trial in the West.

Why drop tonnes of bombs when there are other ways to carry out justice?

[Geronimoe]

6. Follow Clintons' lead

In a remarkable statement, Bill and Hillary Clinton have expressed their sadness over the death of their “personal friend” King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, praising his “humanitarian efforts” and even ridiculously suggesting that he helped the plight of women in the country.

[DetlefK]

7. Hey, Saudi-Arabia. Do you mind if we buy our oil from Russia or the US?

Or how about we announce a multi-billion-dollar/euro/pound long-term program to cut down on our use of crude oil?

There actually is the technology to synthesize crude-like oils from carbondioxide and water. It takes a lot of energy, but it's possible. So what if the EU announced a billion-Euro-investment in research that tries to make this artificial crude cheaper?

[frizzled]

9. Respect for woman-hating head-choppers funding Disneyland 700AD on an ocean of oil?

Can we say fuck off on DU?

[patsimp]

12. It's difficult to respect saudi arabia

they are a miserable state and a threat to the world.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. We respect the Arabian people

The House of Saud, not so much.

This is how we show respect for the House of Saud . . .
[center]
?t=1416860323
[/center][font size="1"]From Sundance Solar.com
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[Tempest]

14. I'd respect them more if they would initiate their own Revolution

And free themselves from those despots.

[frizzled]

15. How about not installing those despots then propping them up with billions in aid, then.

nt

[EX500rider]

22. The House of Saud came to power all on it's own...and does not receive "billions in aid"..

They get money for selling their oil.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Saud

[Spitfire of ATJ]

16. Mob families demand respect too.

[louis-t]

17. Uh, seems to me the House of Saud needs us more than

we need them. They should STFU.

[Javaman]

20. oh the irony.

the Brits must respect them, but the saudi's don't have to respect anyone.

respect has to be earned, but in world politics and world economic terms, oil rules all.

as soon as the Saudi's jack up the price of oil, which they will (do to a forecast money shortage in 5 years for magic moron kindom), they will then get all the respect they want as nations come begging for want of cheap oil again.

the saudi's are just pissed they can't buy their respect right now, like they used to.

[Sunlei]

21. Why would London have a prison contract with Riyadh? for what prisoners?

"London canceled a prison contract with Riyadh"