Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, Amnesty International gets involved!

Amnesty International, the famous non-governmental organization, gave its feelings on the arrival in Al-Nassr of Cristiano Ronaldo. The NGO is waiting for the Portuguese striker to get wet on human rights in Saudi Arabia.

The arrival at Al-Nassr of Cristiano Ronaldo does not only make the football world react. The famous international non-governmental organization, Amnesty International, also wanted to bounce back from the presence in Saudi Arabia of the Portuguese star, recruited by the Riyadh-based club until June 2025 with an XXL salary of 200 million euros. euros per season. Responsible in particular for defending human rights in the world, the NGO sent a direct message to the 37-year-old player. Through its Middle East specialist, Dana Ahmed, Amnesty International wants the former Manchester United member to take advantage of his arrival on Saudi soil to discuss the issue of human rights in the country based in the Arabian Peninsula. In other words to denounce them from their point of view.

#SaudiArabia | @Cristiano Ronaldo should not allow his fame and celebrity status to become a tool of Saudi’s sportswashing.

He should use his time at Al-Nassr to speak out about the myriad human rights issues in the country.https://t.co/lOekqeMxmZ

— Amnesty MENA (@AmnestyMENA) January 4, 2023

Ronaldo must “to speak” human rights

“The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo by Al-Nassr is part of a wider pattern of sports washing in Saudi Arabia. It is highly likely that the Saudi authorities will promote Ronaldo’s presence in the country as a way to distract from the country’s appalling human rights record. Instead of uncritically praising Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo should use his considerable public platform to draw attention to human rights issues in the country. Saudi Arabia routinely executes people for crimes such as murder, rape and drug trafficking. In a single day last year, 81 people were put to death, many of them tried in grossly unfair trials. The authorities also continue their crackdown on freedom of expression and association, with heavy prison sentences handed down to human rights defenders, women’s rights activists and other political activists. Cristiano Ronaldo should not allow his fame and celebrity status to become a tool of Saudi sportwashing. He should use his time in Al-Nassr to talk about the myriad human rights issues in the country.”

It is nevertheless unlikely that “CR7”, presented to the press on Tuesday and whose first steps in its new colors will not take place on Thursday, will leave the sports sphere to get involved in politics. The number 7 of Al-Nassr has no intention of getting angry with his new destination and his new employer, especially in view of his insane emoluments.