18.5.2005

“Human rights, gay rights! Stop the Saudi killers!” chanted 25 lesbian and gay activists outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London yesterday.

The London protest was one of hundreds of protests that took place in more than 40 countries to mark the first International Day Against Homophobia.

“Saudi Arabia is one of the world's most homophobic countries. Gay people are routinely arrested, jailed, tortured, flogged and sometimes executed,” said protest co-organiser Brett Lock of OutRage!

“We want EU and UN sanctions against the Saudi dictatorship. King Fahd should be arrested, taken to the International Criminal Court, and tried on charges of torture and murder. Britain and the EU should halt all trade with the murderous, homophobic Saudi tyranny.

“In March, 105 men were arrested after allegedly attending a gay wedding. Thirty-five have been sentenced to floggings. Some are being punished with up to 2000 lashes, which can be fatal. All 105 men have been sentenced to a year’s jail, where they are likely to suffer torture and rape.

”Saudi Arabia’s unelected leaders enforce a fundamentalist version of Islam. They impose the death penalty for homosexuality. Several gay Muslims have been beheaded in recent years”, said Lock.

His colleague, David Allison, also of OutRage!, expressed concern that Ken Livingstone has failed to back the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).

“The Mayor of London failed to support the International Day Against Homophobia,” said Allison.

“Repeated requests to Ken’s office were ignored. In contrast, the Mayors of Paris, Berlin and many other cities are backing IDAHO. Why isn’t Ken giving the gay community support on this very important day in the gay calendar?”, queried Allison.

“Despite terrorising gay people, and denying rights to women and religious minorities, Saudi Arabia’s fundamentalist regime enjoys friendly relations with the UK and the US. Tony Blair and George Bush sell weapons to the Saudi torturers and murderers.

”It is time the Saudi butchers were named, shamed and isolated,” urged Mr Allison.
 

14.5.2005

Gay campaigners will protest outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in London next week, as part of the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).

The demonstrators hope their appearance at the embassy will help increase pressure on the Saudi government to lift their bar on homosexuality and improve their current human rights record.

It comes as the country is being labelled the "most homophobic in the world".

As well as gay campaigning groups across the UK, human right body Amnesty International has called on the country to improve its treatment of minorities, and to loosen its tough regime.

In recent months, the Saudi government has arrested and executed gay prisoners because of their sexuality, while gay Iranian refugees refused asylum in the UK have committed suicide rather than return to their home country.

The protest is part of the IDAHO event, which will see cities across the globe unite and campaign for an end to homophobia for the first time.

Events are expected to take place in as many as 50 cities, with London gay bars being urged to hold a minute's silence in memory of those who have been persecuted in other countries.

Protest group Outrage, which is taking part in the protest, has already called on members of the UK's LGBT community to part.

Claiming the UK government should be punished for their links with Saudi Arabia, the group is calling for the country to be "named and shamed".

Derek Leonard, the UK coordinator of the IDAHO, is calling for protestors to meet outside the Embassy on Charles Street between 12 noon to 2pm on 17th May (next Tuesday).

Organisers of the IDAHO event have drawn up a petition, that will be delivered to the United Nations next week. To sign it before then, visit www.petitiononline.com/idaho.