RIYADH (Middle East Eye) – A dozen rights groups have urged World Expo 2030 organizers to drop Saudi Arabia as a potential host, saying the kingdom’s “abysmal” human rights record risks tainting the event.
In a letter sent to the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the organizations pointed to Saudi Arabia’s continued silencing of women’s rights advocates and targeting of dissidents abroad among a list of concerns.
“It is crucial that you recognize this as another attempt to whitewash the Saudi leadership’s past abuses and ongoing repression,” the letter says.
The kingdom is among four front runners, including South Korea, Italy and Ukraine, to host the World Expo in 2030.
First held in London’s Hyde Park in 1851, the global event has long been an opportunity to showcase the hottest innovations of the day.
Hosting is a major prize for the chosen city, drawing tourism and business and even the creation of historic icons such as Crystal Palace, the Eiffel Tower and Seattle’s Space Needle.
When Saudi Arabia first bid to host last year, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly pointed out to the BIE that the event would coincide with the culmination of Vision 2030, his strategy to diversify the kingdom’s economy away from oil.
Under the theme of “The Era of Change: Leading the Planet to a Foresighted Tomorrow”, Saudi authorities are said to be planning to turn Riyadh into “a world-class venue for global culture, connectivity and climate action” if they win.
But the rights groups say - like in its hosting of major sporting and entertainment events - the expo would be an attempt to distract from the Saudi leadership’s rights violations which “show no signs of decreasing and are not likely to cease with empty promises of change, innovation and mega development projects”.