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Key should not trade with nations that behead

Key should not trade with nations that behead

John Key should not be considering a trade deal with a country like Saudi Arabia where women are not allowed out without male supervision, let alone drive cars, said the Green Party.

John Key today starts his tour of the Gulf States including Saudi Arabia, a country that has been repeatedly condemned for its continued human rights abuse and persecution of women, migrant workers, homosexuals and non-Muslims.

“Most New Zealanders do not want us to do being trade deals with countries that behead their citizens,” said Green Party human rights spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

“We should be setting ourselves better standards and drawing a line in the sand when it comes to who we are willing to sign trade deals with.

“John Key sent our men and women to war on the premise that ISIL beheads people, yet he is more than willing to be wined and dined by a leader that has beheaded 65 people this year alone.

“The National Government cannot pick and choose when they think human rights are a relevant consideration.

“Will John Key even being raising the issue of human rights abuses or will he just sweep them under the carpet?

“We were elected to the Security Council to uphold human rights, not legitimise regimes that behead and violate with impunity,” said Ms Delahunty.

ENDS

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