French Representative in the European Parliament, Terry Mariani, criticized Saudi Arabia's human rights record, and demanded that it stop the violations he described as repulsive.
Mariani, in an interview with NewsWire Network published today, Friday, also expressed his criticism of the "exceptional" treatment that France and some European countries are offering to Saudi Arabia despite its poor human rights record, he said.
He referred to what he described as a great tolerance by the international community towards Saudi Arabia, despite its repression of the Shiite minority, the war in Yemen, the financing of armed Syrian groups, and the stirring of tensions with Qatar.
The deputy confirmed that the European Parliament is closely following the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, and continues to listen to many NGOs monitoring the human rights situation in the Kingdom.
In response to a question regarding the violation of freedom of the press in Saudi Arabia and the position of the European Parliament, Mariani said that the Union's diplomatic relations with countries are based on a continuous assessment of the human rights situation, including freedom of the press. He pointed to a new action plan that is expected to be voted on in the European Parliament on defending human rights, which attaches great importance to press freedom.
Violations The
deputy was asked about violations documented by reports of human rights organizations, including torture of Saudi detainees and detainees, with electric shocks, flogging, and sexual violence, and he said that they are disgusting practices.
He added, "We cannot continue to deal with the issue from the perspective of double standards in the region. What is condemned in Iran must be condemned in Saudi Arabia, despite our distinguished trade relations."
He pointed out that Saudi Arabia ratified the Convention against Torture in 1997, which already condemns such practices, but it has not ratified its annexes and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.
The Yemen war
and the European parliamentarian talked about Saudi military intervention in Yemen, and called on the international community to work to achieve balance in the war-torn country.
He added, "As a country (France), and its military industries that benefit greatly from the orders and networks of the state, we must limit the shipments of weapons that are delivered (to Saudi Arabia) and the scope of their use. Realism does not exclude morality."
He said that "exporting arms to a country like Saudi Arabia with ties to extremist groups in Yemen is a dangerous matter."
It is noteworthy that Mariani, a former minister who worked in the government of François Fillon, joined the list of the French National Assembly for the European elections in January 2019.