Boris Johnson was treated by Saudis to £14,000 trip two weeks before Khashoggi murder
Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson took part in a £14,000 all-expenses-paid trip to Saudi Arabia, two weeks before the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the country’s Istanbul consulate, parliamentary papers revealed.
Johnson flew to Jeddah on September 19, for a three-day visit, where he reportedly was treated to accommodation, food and travel by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
An entry in the Commons register of members' interests read that Johnson’s goal was "meeting with regional figures to promote education for women and girls.”
Johnson was widely condemned on Twitter, with the Mirror newspaper even referring to him as a “lying toad.”
Remind me again why the lying toad still champions flogging weapons to a murderous regime: "Saudis treat Boris Johnson to £14k jaunt days before Jamal Khashoggi's murder" https://t.co/u9RCNKqodU
— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) October 31, 2018
Boris Johnson says his visit to Riyadh 19-21 September cost £14,000 and was paid by Saudi Arabia. The visit was to meet regional figures "to promote education for women and girls."
— Patrick Wintour (@patrickwintour) October 31, 2018
The Brexiteer had quit as Foreign Secretary in July, over May’s handling of Brexit negotiations.
During his time as Foreign Secretary, Johnson refused to back halting arms sales to Saudi who were –and are still– carrying out a devastating air campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen. He was also accused by human rights groups of blocking a UN investigation into Saudi war crimes committed in Yemen.
Another for the annals of upstanding British government:Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, a sitting MP just a few months out of government, took "a £14,000 all-expenses-paid freebie trip" to Saudi Arabia 10 days before they killed Jamal Khashoggihttps://t.co/AXk6bTO60W
— kadhim (＾ｰ^)ノ (@kadhimshubber) October 31, 2018
"[His] trip was right in the middle of a vicious human rights crackdown in Saudi Arabia and you have to ask - did the former foreign secretary raise the issue of jailed women rights activists like Loujain al-Hathloul while he was there?" - @KateAllenAIhttps://t.co/wRj5IrD7vD
— News From Amnesty (@NewsFromAmnesty) October 31, 2018
The UK government’s support of Saudi Arabia has so far not wavered, even when their US counterparts are questioning their ties to the Kingdom and calling for a ceasefire in Yemen.
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