The UK government has received plenty of criticism for rolling out the red carpet for Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. The country’s terrible history on human rights has been well documented. But the government has pushed forward with another arms deal, to provide Saudi Arabia with British-made fighter jets, regardless.
The UK government, however, wasn’t the only stop-off on bin Salman’s trip.
A shocking sight
The crown prince also met with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. And Twitter users were having none of it. One barely bats an eye when the Conservative government meets with leaders of oppressive regimes, but people found the highest representative of the Anglican church doing so particularly galling. HSBC whistleblower Nicholas Wilson noted the meeting with the following tweet:
They're all at it. The whole corrupt British establishment kowtowing to a monster because of money. pic.twitter.com/rnVdOhsLYF
— Mr Ethical (@nw_nicholas) March 8, 2018
What would Jesus do?
Groups like Amnesty International hoped that Welby would use the event as an opportunity to raise awareness about human rights in the region. But others claimed it reflected badly on Welby, in light of Saudi Arabia’s suppression of dissent and continued military action in Yemen. The response was quick and damning.
This is a very sad – and shameful – photograph. The Archbishop is shaking hands with a man responsible for war crimes taking place right now. He must know this. https://t.co/EPzpoUxC6f
— Tom London (@TomLondon6) March 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/GeorgieBoy61/status/971809485063970817
https://twitter.com/june_randeria/status/972143072162304000
I have to admit I don't understand the "welcome" given to a country which is doing so much harm. Am I naive? I don't like it, but I don't know what I can do. 😢
— The Book Rest (@TheBookRest) March 9, 2018
"By their acts shall ye know them"
— Tadhg O Caoimh (@mbakunin88) March 8, 2018
Others pointed out that before he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby worked for an oil firm, Elf Aquitaine, a company that faced allegations about human rights abuses.
Welby was an oil executive: shaking hands with despots was literally his day job.
— Plashing Vole (@PlashingVole) March 9, 2018
No! THIS Justin Welby? https://t.co/k41c0odo3d
— K-smudged 🖐💙 (@smudge1) March 8, 2018
A missed opportunity
By refusing to meet with the crown prince, the head of the Anglican church could have sent a very clear message. Sadly, Welby played right into the PR offensive and further legitimised the Saudi Arabian government But at least we managed to offload a few more fighter jets, not that Jesus would probably have approved.
Get Involved!
– Support the Stop the War coalition, CAAT, PPU, the Arab Organisation of Human Rights, Global Justice Now, and all the groups opposing this state visit.
– Join The Canary, so we can keep holding the powerful to account.
Featured images via James N. Mattis/Flickr
