Peter Tatchell Speaks Out On Saudi Royal Visit

Leading human rights activist and Green Party/Green Left supporter Peter Tatchell has spoken out on the visit of the Saudi King and the hypocrisy of the British establishment picking and choosing which dictatorial regimes to condemn and which to treat with full state visits. Peter was featured on various news bulletins and has a very good article on the Guardian Comment is Free site. Says Peter -

Gordon Brown refuses to meet the Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe. He says he wants to take a stand against tyranny. Yet the same Gordon Brown will happily embrace the Saudi dictator, King Abdullah during his state visit to Britain this week. Double standards or what?

The State Banquet broadcast live on Sky News and BBC News 24 tonight was an appalling juxtaposition of flummery and toadying with apologetics for a murderous regime. It should lead not only to support for human rights and anti-arms trade campaigns targetting Saudi Arabia, but also to increased support for a Republic!