A leading Saudi Arabian human rights campaigner has told Newcastle supporters that enjoying the team’s current success and protesting against the kingdom’s often brutal autocracy are not mutually exclusive.
During a meeting in the city organised by the pressure group NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing, Lina al-Hathloul told an audience of around two dozen that challenging the Saudi regime over human rights abuses “can bring change” and it is possible to “both be happy about Newcastle winning and criticise what is happening in Saudi”.
