Human rights for glbti people specifically, were not part of the Prime Minister's discussion with Saudi Arabia's leader during the one on one time Mr Key spent with King Salman during his just-finished trip through the Middle East. John Key with King Salman. (Pic: Radio NZ) New Zealand trade officials are keen to cement in a trade arrangement with the Gulf states whose immense spending power could benefit our exporters. But Key was under pressure from human rights advocates to take into account the abysmal record of Gulf states on the rights of women and minorities in any discussions. General media reports have indicated that Key brought up the general subject of human rights with King Salman but there has been no mention of discussion about the plight of gay men who are routinely harassed by religious police, legally jailed and can be beheaded for same-sex intimacy. The lives of transgender people and other sexual minorities are similarly fraught. "The Prime Minister had an extensive conversation with King Salman on the issue of human rights, where he expressed our country's views, explained New Zealand's own track record, and outlined New Zealand's expectations" a spokesperson for the PM told GayNZ.com Daily News this afternoon. "As time was limited, it was not possible to raise every individual rights issue specifically." The spokesperson says Key has been clear that entering into a trade agreement "does not mean we agree with or condone a country's actions. The question is whether we can use a stronger trade relationship to over time exchange dialogue and hopefully influence in areas where we have a different perspective." It is not clear if the PM would have brought up the issue of glbti equality if there had been more time for discussion with King Salman. On Tuesday Greens co-leader Metiria Turei asked the PM in Parliament if the Government believed it was acceptable for governments to behead people for being homosexual." Replying for the PM, Hon. Bill English said it was not acceptable but echoed the PM's position that trading with such governments "is not an endorsement of the criminal punishment system in Saudi Arabia."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 30th April 2015 - 8:07pm