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Acquisition Of Newcastle United By Prince Salman Trips Fiancé Jamal Khashoggi

Muhammad bin Salman (Instagram @muhammadbinsalman)

JAKARTA - Hatice Cengiz, the fiancé of the late Saudi journalist and writer Jamal Khashoggi, has called for the English Premier League not to allow the settlement of the sale of the Newcastle United club to the Saudi Public Fund Investment (PIF), backed by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), because his hands were stained his fiancé's blood.

This news came in an article published in the British newspaper The Guardian, entitled: “The Saudi regime killed my fiancé. Not allowed to buy Newcastle United. "

MbS is trying to restore a tainted image of himself after his involvement in Khashoggi's murder at his country's consulate in Istanbul. According to Cengiz, if the Premier League allowed the process, their reputation would be tarnished forever.

He added that human rights groups have condemned the kingdom's cynical attempts to "wash sport" with its human rights abuses.

He pointed out that over the last few years, MbS has spent a lot of money positioning himself in the world as a modernizer and reformer. But detention, torture and murder were the backdrop for all of this.

"Among the violations committed by the regime are those committed during the war in Yemen - which has led to the United Nations making credible war crimes accusations. And my fiancé, journalist Jamal Khashoggi, fell victim to the regime in October 2018," he continued.

Although the Saudi government has yet to confirm interest in and reports of a planned deal on Newcastle United, human rights groups have also protested the widely circulated allegations.

Amnesty International Britain director Kate Allen argues that there are "serious questions for the Premier League to resolve" when it comes to the possibility of MbS, through control of the sovereign wealth fund, becoming a "beneficial owner" of Newcastle United.

"Whether this agreement works or not, we ask Newcastle United staff and fans to familiarize themselves with the dire human rights situation in Saudi Arabia and prepare to discuss it," Allen said in an April 21 news release from Amnesty Britain.

He added that the Premier League must present their assessment of Saudi Arabia's human rights record if the reported agreement yields results.

Newcastle Fans Welcome MbS with Meme

Last month, Newcastle United fans added a Saudi Arabian flag to their Twitter, shared MbS memes and, in some cases, made jokes about human rights abuses. This is of course done to anticipate the Saudi-led consortium buying their favorite club.

MbS-led Saudi Public Fund Investment is on the verge of finalizing a deal to take over the Maggpies for around $ 368 million or will control 80 percent of the St James' Park-based club.

Newcastle United fans are increasingly impatient with current owner Mike Ashley, regularly chanting "Ashley Out" protests. The retail tycoon has often been criticized for his lack of investment and interest in the club.

Dozens of fans celebrated news of the planned takeover by changing their Twitter profiles to include the Saudi flag and an image of MBS.

Today, Friday, May 22, Saudi state media El Ekhbariya reported that the Premier League had reportedly taken the decision to allow the process of selling Newcastle to MbS. However, neither the Premier League nor the club have confirmed the news.

Currently the Premier League competition is still suspended amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which has not subsided. Newcastle are in 13th place out of 29 matches played.

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