A group of civil society organisations working to further civil and political rights in the Middle East have co-signed a letter to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), citing concerns regarding Saudi Arabia's bid as a possible host for the 2030 World Expo. The group outlines the systematic abuse and repression of rights defenders as well as restrictions to fundamental freedoms women's rights, lack of due process and frequent arbitrary detention in the Kingdom as at odds with the values of the BIE.

The signatories allege "the Kingdom’s hosting of entertainment and sports events constitutes whitewashing of the government’s repression and its abysmal human rights record, both past and present."

Signatories include:

ALQST for Human Rights, CIVICUS, Democracy for the Arab World Now - DAWN, European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR), HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement, Human Rights Foundation (HRF), MENA Rights Group, Right Livelihood, Rights Realisation Centre, Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM), World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)

BIE and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not provide comments to Middle East Eye.