Cristiano Ronaldo has been urged to call out human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, where he has landed a deal worth £172million a year.
Campaigners say the ex-Manchester United star has a moral duty to be a “voice for good” as the oil-rich nation faces international questions over executions, torture and persecution.
The calls were led by Lina Al-Hathloul, whose sister Loujain was jailed and tortured after protesting against a ban on women drivers.
Loujain was locked up in 2018 and served 1,001 days behind bars. Lina told the Sunday Mirror: “Ronaldo may think he doesn’t have anything to do with politics, but he is part of the PR machine.
“He has to use his voice for good. He can use his platform. Call for the release of prisoners, call for an end to male guardianship, end the execution of minors.
“My sister was tortured, they had tools to electrocute her, they flogged her, beat her, sexually harassed her, sleep deprivation. She was then sentenced to five years eight months. All for campaigning for something everyone in the West considers to be normal.”
Loujain and her family are still subject to a travel ban. Her case came after a string of Saudi controversies – including the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, 59.
Lina, who works for ALQST for Human Rights, said: “After Khashoggi they think they can imprison anyone without accountability. They still have mass executions. The regime is insane now. The executions, torture, disappearances. If people are thinking about sport, the football, they’re not thinking about Khashoggi.”
She also urged the West to take a harder line with the regime, saying: “They are feeding a monster they won’t be able to stop.”
Felix Jakens, of Amnesty International, said the regime has become even more hardline in the last year. He said he hoped Portuguese star Ronaldo, 37, would speak out, adding: “He should raise concerns if he has them. The same goes for all sports people taking Saudi money.”
Britain’s former world boxing champ Anthony Joshua has fought there – and Saudi now hosts an F1 Grand Prix.
The state was condemned for the 2018 murder of government critic Khashoggi, who was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi officials said he was killed in a “rogue operation” by a team of agents sent to persuade him to return to the kingdom.
The regime caused international outrage last March when 81 people were executed in one day.
Ronaldo, now with Riyadh-based Al-Nassr, is key to Saudi hopes of hosting the 2030 World Cup.
He said after signing: “Al-Nassr’s vision is very inspiring and impressive.”
His representatives were approached for comment.
