Paris (AFP)

"The Dakar should not be a tribune offered to Saudi Arabia" to make people forget human rights: the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) challenged Friday ASO, the organizing company of the rally, and France Televisions, two days before the start of the competition in the Saudi desert.

"We appeal to the values ​​of commitment and responsibility of the company ASO to ensure that human rights are taken into account and that the disastrous situation in the country is not an anecdote on the sidelines of the Rally," said FIDH, in a letter to company executives.

Saudi Arabia is widely criticized by human rights defenders, who point out among other things its controversial military intervention in Yemen, the condition of women in the country and its policy towards opponents, in particular since the murder of the journalist critic Jamal Khashoggi.

The FIDH sent a similar letter to the management of France Télévisions, broadcaster of the competition to be held from January 5 to 17, for the first time in the ultra-conservative kingdom which seeks, with sport and tourism, to diversify its economy today almost exclusively dependent on petroleum.

"We appeal to the public service mission of France Televisions and ask you to ensure that the dissemination of the Dakar is not a platform offered to the Saudi regime to improve its image and make people forget its crimes", claim the associations.

Denouncing a "sexual apartheid" in the country via "the subjugation" of women "to male guardianship" and the "systematic repression of all forms of opposition", the associations highlight that the "realities of Saudi Arabia are sadly far from the spirit of freedom that ASO seeks to promote "and the" vocation "of public service television to promote" respect for human rights, pluralism and democratic debate ".

FIDH and its member organizations launch an "urgent appeal" to the organizers, participants and fans of the Dakar to "urge the Saudi authorities to drop all charges against the Saudi human rights defenders and immediately release the detained persons ".

For this, they ask the Dakar pilots to "give voice" and "contribute to awareness and solidarity" by wearing a pink armband #FreeSaudiHeroes during the competition.

© 2020 AFP