Last week, an ex-intelligence officer, Colonel Rabih Alenezi, told the BBC that he was ordered to evict villagers from a tribe in the Gulf state to ma
Last week, an ex-intelligence officer, Colonel Rabih Alenezi, told the BBC that he was ordered to evict villagers from a tribe in the Gulf state to make way for The Line, part of the Neom eco-project.
One of them was subsequently shot and killed for protesting against eviction. A statement issued by Saudi state security at the time alleged that he had opened fire on security forces and they had been forced to retaliate. Human rights organisations and the UN have said he was killed simply for resisting eviction.
At least 47 other villagers were detained after resisting evictions, many of whom were prosecuted on terror-related charges, according to the UN and the UK-based human rights group ALQST. Of those, 40 remain in detention, five of whom are on death row, ALQST says.
The Saudi government and Neom management refused to comment on the findings of the BBC investigation.
Amnesty International, a human rights organisation, said: “The reality behind such futuristic projects is the brutal repression of citizens and residents.”
“Any business that knowingly contributes to human rights harms is in clear violation of international law,” Dana Ahmed, Amnesty International’s Middle East Researcher said.
ALQST said it appears that the UK is “increasingly willing to turn a blind eye to the catalogue of Saudi abuses on the ground.”
“Imagine if companies working on Neom made their involvement conditional on the release of local residents arrested for protesting forced eviction?” said Josh Cooper, deputy director of the organisation.
“Or if university chancellors withheld Saudi partnerships until detained University of Leeds PhD student Salma al-Shehab was freed? Such steps would have a positive bearing,” he added.
The BBC contacted several high-profile speakers participating in the event, but many did not respond.
Of those that did, many described the event as an important opportunity to showcase and promote British business, culture and society.
www.bbc.co.uk
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