Leading human rights campaigner tells fans that enjoying team’s success and protesting against kingdom’s often brutal autocracy are not mutually exclusive
‘They should not underestimate the power one word can have’A leading Saudi Arabian human rights campaigner has told Newcastle supporters that enjoying the team’s current success and protesting against the kingdom’s often brutal autocracy are not mutually exclusive.
“At the moment the Saudis are still in a phase where image is important to them. They care about their image and they do as much as they can to cover things up. Fans speaking about things, tweeting about violations can have an impact. For my sister, it worked, there was so much pressure that they released her.”
“Because of my sister, Newcastle is very personal for me,” said Hathloul. “I think we can bring change with the Newcastle fans saying they will pressure for things to get better in Saudi. Speak about Salma, speak about travel bans, speak about execution and be public about all that. The Saudis will listen. In the end, they will have to.”
“I believe a narrative of building bridges and footballers going to Saudi [to play in the newly high-profile league] can have a positive impact,” she said. “But if, once they are there, they don’t speak up they are just part of the PR campaign. If people think of a footballer when they think about Saudi Arabia and not about executions or Loujain, then they aren’t having a positive impact.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How Newcastle pair Best and Marzhew forged rugby league's newest brotherhood of destructionGreg Marzhew and Bradman Best travelled different roads to Newcastle but a shared gift for leaving carnage in their wake resulted in one of rugby league's deadliest attacking duos.
Read more »
The $150k bargains that unlock Newcastle’s million-dollar manKalyn Ponga is slated to earn the NRL’s biggest pay packet at $1.4 million. But it’s a pair of bargain playmakers who have helped bring the best out of Newcastle’s marquee man.
Read more »
The $150k bargains that unlock Newcastle’s million-dollar manKalyn Ponga is slated to earn the NRL’s biggest pay packet at $1.4 million. But it’s a pair of bargain playmakers who have helped bring the best out of Newcastle’s marquee man.
Read more »
The $150k bargains that unlock Newcastle’s million-dollar manKalyn Ponga is slated to earn the NRL’s biggest pay packet at $1.4 million. But it’s a pair of bargain playmakers who have helped bring the best out of Newcastle’s marquee man.
Read more »
Liberals accused of ‘dirty tactics’ over Indigenous voice pamphlet leading voters to site that harvests informationParty pointing voters to same website labelled ‘potentially misleading’ by AEC during 2022 election
Read more »
NRL 2023: Newcastle Knights, player departures NRL, rugby league news, Shane Flanagan, Dom YoungFlanagan’s Dragons cull begins as Knights farewell ten players: NRL Offseason Central
Read more »