Human rights in Saudi Arabia

On WED 11 DEC 2024, Saudi Arabia were awarded the rights to host the 2034 Men’s World Cup by acclamation, following a heavily restricted and accelerated bidding process that left only 57 nations – 27% of FIFA’s membership – eligible to apply. In spite of FIFA’s stated policy on human rights, essential human rights in Saudi Arabia are lacking in several areas.

LABOUR

• Global: Confirmation of Saudi Arabia as 2034 FIFA World Cup host puts many lives at risk [Amnesty International]
• Saudi Arabia: Migrant workers electrocuted, decapitated, and falling to death at workplaces [Human Rights Watch]
• New report predicts surge in unexplained migrant worker deaths in Saudi Arabia [Fairsquare]
• Saudi Arabia: Migrant workers unpaid for months [Human Rights Watch]

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

• Saudi Arabia: Law enshrines male guardianship [Human Rights Watch]
• Revealed: Saudi Arabia’s secretive rehabilitation ‘prisons’ for disobedient women [The Guardian]

LGBTQ RIGHTS

• Award of 2034 Men’s World Cup to Saudi Arabia risks lives and exposes FIFA’s empty human rights commitments [Sport and Rights Alliance]

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

• Saudi Arabia: Authorities must free people who are arbitrarily detained for online expression ahead of Internet Governance Forum [Amnesty International]
• Saudi Arabia: Detained football fans could face up to five years in prison for chanting during match [Amnesty International]
• The path to impunity for the Khashoggi murder must not be taken [Amnesty International]