Saudi Arabia: Raab to pressure “ valued partner '' on human rights

Dominic Raab must pressure the Saudi government on its human rights record during his first visit to the country as foreign secretary.

The Foreign Ministry said that Raab would "dialogue" with his Saudi counterparts on the issue and other areas of "difference".

He will also discuss the "devastating" humanitarian situation in Yemen and efforts to end its long war.

The Labor Party urged the ministers to end all arms sales to Saudi Arabia, one of the main protagonists of the Yemeni conflict.

Last summer, the UK pledged to no longer approve arms export licenses to Saudi Arabia that could potentially be used during the civil war as a result of 39; a judicial challenge by activists.

The United Kingdom and other Western powers are providing logistical support to a multinational coalition led by Saudi Arabia that supports the Yemeni government in its fight against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel movement.

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The five-year conflict, seen as part of a regional power struggle between Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia, devastated the country and, according to the UN, has caused at least 7,500 dead.

Before his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Raab stressed his long-standing economic, security and intelligence ties with the United Kingdom, but also the need for close cooperation on regional and global challenges .

The Minister of Foreign Affairs will meet with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the government's national security adviser, Dr. Musaad Al Aiyban, as well as with Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Officials said Mr. Raab would continue to "advance" the peace process in Yemen, following the recent spate of Houthi violence and constraints imposed on the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in need.

Four-fifths of the Yemeni population – 24 million people – are in need of humanitarian aid or protection, including 10 million who depend on food aid to survive.

"Valuable partner"

The Foreign Ministry said that Mr Raab would also raise questions "where we have differences, including on human rights and values".

Human rights groups have accused the Saudi royal family in power of tolerating the torture of political opponents as part of a sustained crackdown on dissent over the past two years – what the regime rejected.

In November 2018, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch alleged that dozens of human rights activists, intellectuals and religious were illegally arrested and several of them, including women, were either flogged , electrocuted or sexually harassed.

Saudi Arabia also continues to face international pressure over the unsolved murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.

He blamed rogue agents for the murder, but denied allegations that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was aware of the operation. However, the CIA believed that Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the murder.

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Mr Raab, who visited Oman and Turkey earlier this week, said that Saudi Arabia was one of the UK's "closest trading partners and plays a important role in ensuring the security of Britain. "

He added: "As a valued partner, we must work closely together to tackle the crisis in Yemen, terrorism and climate change, as well as pursue reform and engage on human rights issues. man."

Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn called on the UK to end all military aid to Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi-led coalition was responsible for the indiscriminate killing of civilians in Yemen.

As part of the UK export policy, military equipment licenses should not be granted if there is a "clear risk" that weapons will be used for "a serious violation of international humanitarian law ".

The Court of Appeal ruled last summer that existing sales should be reviewed, but not suspended, following a challenge by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade.

Ministers later assured that no further export licenses would be issued while the government is reviewing the decision, although in September International Trade Secretary Liz Truss was forced to apologize for two breaches of engagement.