The European Parliament voted Thursday to boycott Expo 2020 Dubai and called on international companies sponsoring the global event to withdraw, over concerns regarding the UAE’s human rights record.

The resolution came in protest against alleged human rights violations by Emirati authorities, as the EU parliament called for the quick release of human rights activists Ahmed Mansoor, Mohammed al-Roken, Nasser bin Gaith, as well as other activists imprisoned in the Gulf state....

"The European Parliament has taken a strong stand today against the brutal dictators of Dubai. The UAE monarchy has engaged in a cascade of human rights violations, including widespread abuses against women and war crimes in Yemen. The UAE Dubai Expo is organised by a member of the ruling family who himself has been accused of rape," said Sunjeev Bery, Executive Director at Freedom Forward, a lead NGO organiser of the boycott effort.