Love in the Time of Choleric Anglo-Saudi Ties
“Relations between the UK and Saudi Arabia have been strained in recent years and were brought to a head in 2006 when Tony Blair intervened to end a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) inquiry into alleged kickbacks paid in a multibillion military aircraft deal between the two states. The Saudi royal family was deeply concerned about the idea that the investigators might try o open up their Swiss bank accounts, it was alleged at the time.
“This led the Saudis to threaten to restrict the sharing of intelligence relating to terror activity if the prosecution went ahead. They also threatened to pull out of other highly-lucrative arms deals.
“Last year, the House of Lords ruled that the SFO's decision to drop the corruption investigation into the £43bn Saudi arms deal with BAE Systems was unlawful. In a hard-hitting ruling, two High Court judges described the SFO's decision as "an outrage…..
“Adulterers face public stonings and floggings and, in the most serious cases, beheadings and hangings….” The Independent.
M E Online, apparently supported by ‘someone’ in the UAE, has also been quick to headline this juicy news item (in fairness it also eagerly covered the cited huge arms deal and the bribery investigation, among others).
Cheers
mhg
Mon
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