EXCLUSIVE
Tom Gordon
Scottish Political Editor
THE Scottish Parliament, whose founding principles include equality and transparency, is under fire for part-funding a trade mission to Saudi Arabia amid growing criticism of its human rights record.
Three MSPs and two officials from Holyrood's Economy, Energy and Tourism committee are due to take part in "Saudi-British Energy Week", run by the UK Government's Trade & Investment office (UKTI), later this month at a cost of £6500.
The Scottish Greens criticised the trip given the "blatant human rights violations" in Saudi Arabia, including its treatment of women, its public beheadings, and the recent sentence of 1000 lashes imposed on blogger Raif Badawi after he questioned the country's religious establishment.
The MSPs going to Saudi are Tory Murdo Fraser, who last week took part in a candle-lit vigil outside Holyrood in support of Badawi, the SNP's Gordon MacDonald and Labour's Lewis Macdonald.
Badawi, a 30-year-old father-of-three who ran the Free Saudi Liberals Blog, which criticised the strict clerics who support the Kingdom's ruling family, was sentenced in 2013 to seven years in prison and 600 lashes for insulting Islam.
After he appealed, his sentence was raised to 10 years in prison, a £175,000 fine and 1000 lashes: 50 lashes once a week for 20 weeks.
The first 50 lashes were delivered in a public square in Jeddah on January 9, when witnesses said Badawi's feet and hands were shackled.
The event prompted international condemnation, and Badawi has not been flogged since.
Amnesty International last week warned Badawi could suffer "debilitating long-term physical and mental damage" if it resumed.
SNP, Labour, LibDem and Green MSPs have signed a parliamentary motion calling for Badawi's release and condemning the flogging as "torture", though none of the MSPs going on the trip signed it.
Women in Saudi Arabia are not yet allowed to vote, drive, or go anywhere without a male chaperone.
UKTI promotional material for the oil and gas Mission between February 9 and 12 does not mention human rights, but does describe Saudi Arabia as a "High Value Opportunity" because of its huge oil and petrochemical industry.
The trip to Al Khobar in the country's Eastern Province includes a "VIP reception" for over 200 guests, "networking events", meetings with "key trading families" and a visit to Jubail, the largest industrial city in the Middle East.
Green MSP Patrick Harvie, a member of the Economy Committee, said: "Given the blatant human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, such as the 1,000 lash sentence imposed on the writer Raif Badawi, we should be supporting democracy, free speech and equalities campaigners rather than helping oil the wheels of commercial interests.
"There's a danger this kind of engagement confers undeserved legitimacy on the Saudi government.
"I urge the MSPs involved to seek a briefing from human rights groups to ensure they understand the realities of life under this brutal regime."
Siobhan Reardon, director of Amnesty International in Scotland, said the parliament's role in the trip raised "concerns" and she hoped the MSPs would use the visit to highlight the "barbarity" seen in Saudi Arabia.
The parliament confirmed it would meet the £1300 per person cost for accommodation and economy class flights for the MSPs and officials.
A spokeswoman said: "The Committee's interest in this trade mission is focused on Scottish business, Scottish exports and Scottish jobs. While there will be no official engagement with the Saudi Government, the Committee is of course supportive of efforts by the Scottish Government, UK Government and others to address the issue of human rights in Saudi Arabia."
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