The City of London Corporation has come under fire after its Guildhall home was used to promote two boxing fights organised as part of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly violating citizens’ human rights – execution numbers are increasing, women are widely discriminated against and torture during detention are some of the violations reported by Amnesty International.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has spoken to councillors who have criticised the City for allowing the building to be let to promote events associated with the Saudi regime.
One suggested a percent of the hire fee should go to support Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) charities, in particular, those “supporting women and those fleeing violence and abuse”.
A spokesperson for the City said these events are private hire bookings, and that as per its commercial hire procedure, it can only provide the venue.
As well as acting as the City of London Corporation’s headquarters, the Grade-I listed Guildhall can also be let out privately.
The City however caused some controversy when, on September 19, the premises was hired to promote the Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois fight at Wembley Stadium.
The Wembley bout was organised by Riyadh Season, a series of cultural and sporting events held in the Saudi Arabian capital, and Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s general entertainment authority.
Saudi Arabia’s investment in boxing has faced accusations of ‘sports washing’ and an effort to distract from criticism about its human rights violations. Promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn recently defended the country’s involvement in the sport, arguing its financial input has been a ‘shot in the arm’ for British boxing.
At the Guildhall event, the Corporation’s Town Clerk, Ian Thomas, gave a speech in which he detailed some of the history of the building and the City. He also praised the support of the Mayor of London and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, adding how the Riyadh Season has “elevated the sport and it is genuinely being done for the fans of boxing”.
The event, and Mr Thomas’s speech, resulted in criticism from some quarters including on the local blog Reclaim EC1. The topic was also raised at a Court of Common Council meeting after a satirical email was circulated among Members pertaining to be written by His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
Last week, a second event, promoting the Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk fight in Riyadh on December 21, was held at the Guildhall. While not deemed to be as controversial as the first, similar concerns have been raised by some councillors around the City allowing the Guildhall to be hired for such events.
One, who wished to remain anonymous, described the optics for the Corporation as ‘very poor’. “Perhaps a percent of the hire fee should go to support EDI charities; especially charities supporting women and those fleeing violence and abuse?”
Alder Martha Grekos said it is ‘no more acceptable’ for the City to let its premises be used to promote an event sponsored by the Saudi Government than one sponsored by the Chinese Communist Party or any other ‘harmful’ organisation.
“It makes a mockery of the council’s own motto ‘Domine dirige nos’ (‘Lord, direct us’),” she said. “Incidents like this underline the need for radical reform of this council.”
A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation said: “These events are private hire bookings. As per our commercial hire procedure, the City of London Corporation only provides the venue.
“The City Corporation has increasingly recognised the importance of sport in promoting wellbeing, enhancing economic opportunities and supporting international diplomacy. Last year, we approved a new sport strategy – A Global City of Sport – – to guide future sport priorities and investment.
“This report sets out a vision and priorities for the City Corporation’s involvement in sport, including investing in facilities, activating spaces, celebrating impact, attracting events and supporting community clubs.”
