Leaders condemn Saudi execution

A DOZEN Newcastle politicians have written to Saudi authorities over the execution of a man for alleged crimes committed as a child.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

Newcastle Civic Centre

City leaders have faced sustained pressure from campaigners over recent years to speak out over human rights abuses in the Gulf state, since the takeover of Newcastle United in 2021 by a consortium led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Activists have claimed that growing links between Tyneside and Saudi Arabia, with council bosses keen to push for investment from the kingdom, have led to the city’s reputation being “dragged through the mud”.

It has now been confirmed that 12 Newcastle councillors recently wrote to the Saudi embassy and directly to the Saudi king as part of a campaign calling for Abdullah al-Derazi’s conviction to be quashed.