Manchester City Football Club's connection to the United Arab Emirates came under scrutiny this week as an open letter was sent requesting the release of a prominent activist Dr Mohammed al Roken, imprisoned for speaking out against abuses in his country and calling for democratic change.
Human rights organisations, Amnesty and Human Rights Watch used the letter to City's owner, Crown Prince Mansour, to launch a campaign on the anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre appealing to the Arab State to respect people's rights in their country. The letter was signed by Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long Bailey and Blackley and Broughton MP Graham Stringer, amongst other MPs and councillors, including Ashton MP, Angela Raynor...
"Manchester has a proud record on human rights both at home and abroad and as we mark the 197th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre, it is important that we uphold the freedom of people across the world to demonstrate and protest in the name of the democracy" she said "That's why I support the campaign for freedom and human rights in the United Arab Emirates."
The Peterloo Massacre occurred when a crowd of 60,000 people gathered in what was St Peter's Fields in central Manchester to protest for more rights and greater representation in Parliament but were met by the militia, including the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry, and what followed was bloody carnage and death meted out by the sabres and musket shot of the military on the peaceful crowd. 15 people died and hundreds were injured, including many women and children.
Campaigners urging the release of Dr Mohammed al Roken were present at the Peterloo commemoration last weekend getting petitions signed and asking people to pose for photos holding photos of the imprisoned activist.
"Manchester above all other cities has this unique and incredible history of being at the forefront in the development of people's rights and freedoms" said Nicholas McGeehan of Human Rights Watch "It is therefore incredulous, not to say ironic, that one of Manchester's great football clubs should be associated with a regime that is basically oppressive."
"The aim of our campaign is to make people aware that the people running the Club are the same people committing Human Rights violations and making bad laws back in UAE" he added "At the Peterloo people of normal backgrounds came together to protest against the lack of parliamentary representation. The rights we take for granted in Britain are still being denied in some countries: the UAE being a case in point."
Nicholas McGeehan lived in the UAE for four years, working as a teacher, and became interested in campaigning for change in the country when he witnessed the oppressiveness of the regime first hand. He reckons that ownership of football clubs by rich dictators across the world is about `soft power'...
"It is about brand building" he explained "It allows the owners to present themselves and benefactors with an uncritical fan base. It means that because the TV stations need access to grounds and training grounds they can insure themselves against unflattering news or investigation pieces on them. It is cheap and effective PR."
Manchester City football club were sent a copy of the signed campaign letter and approached for a response but have so far declined to comment.
* For further details of the campaign see the Amnesty website - click here
* For details of last weekend's Peterloo commemoration see previous Salford Star article - click here
Words by Nigel Pivaro
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