Spanish clubs invited to show solidarity with women in KSA: Amnesty
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Amnesty International urges Spanish clubs to show their solidarity with women's rights during a championship held in Saudi Arabia.
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Amnesty International called on the football clubs to wear purple armbands to show solidarity.
The international organization, Amnesty International, called on Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Athletic Bilbao to take a stand over women's rights in Saudi Arabia, reported Reuters.
The four Spanish football clubs are set to compete in the Spanish Super Cup held in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh from January 12 till January 16.
This comes as the Spanish football association agreed on a yearly 30 million euros ($34 million) deal with the Saudis that grants the latter to host the competition on their territory.
Armbands to show solidarity
Amnesty International called on the football clubs and the Spanish FA to let team captains wear purple armbands it sent during sporting tournaments to show solidarity.
"We are asking your organization to honor its commitments and responsibilities to human rights," an Amnesty letter said last week.
"Your club has an opportunity to take advantage of the tournament to make human rights concerns visible in Saudi Arabia," the letter read.
Read more: The Washington Post: PGA golfers who play in Saudi Arabia accept blood money
Sportswashing human rights violations
In a statement, the organization highlighted that "the Spanish FA presented it in 2019 as 'the Super Cup of equality' but two years later, we denounce the continuation of serious violations of human rights in this country [Saudi Arabia]."
The Spanish Super Cup is one of several sports events hosted by the Kingdom to whitewash its human rights violation records in the international scene.
On Wednesday, Real Madrid and Barcelona will meet in the first semi-final, while Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid will compete on Thursday in the second semi-final leading to Sunday's final.
Funneling billions of dollars
A report by the Human Rights Watch contends that Saudi Arabia is funneling billions of dollars into entertainment and events aimed at whitewashing its human rights abuses, from torture reports to murdering journalists, to executing opposers.
Another report by human rights group Grant Liberty revealed that the Saudi regime has spent at least $1.5 billion on international sporting events.
Most recently, the Kingdom has been using the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and its corresponding entertainment performances by renowned artists like Justin Bieber and A$AP Rocky to polish its image in the international arena, diverting its controversial reputation to a more moderate one as planned by Mohammad bin Salman himself.
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