UK 'Turns Blind Eye' to Saudi Human Rights Record to Sell Arms

Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized Riyadh for the apparent lack of human rights inside the country, public beheadings and floggings, restrictions on freedom of expression and discrimination against women.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Yulia Shamporova — Lucrative business deals make the UK government ignore human right violations by Saudi Arabia, Stop the War Coalition administrator Lindsey German told Sputnik on Friday.

"Successive British governments have sold arms to Saudi Arabia, have encouraged lucrative business deals and have turned a blind eye to attacks on human rights and civil liberties," German said.

She added that arms sale was taking place against the backdrop of a Saudi-led coalition air campaign in Yemen against the Houthi political opposition faction, which has led to "massive casualties," while the country's human rights record is "one of the worst in the world."

The Saudi-led international coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the positions of the main Yemen opposition, the Houthis, since March, causing hundreds of civilian deaths and aggravating an acute humanitarian situation in the country.

"Britain regards this barbaric regime as one of its closest allies, and will not seriously challenge its record," German said.