A DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTING the horror of life in the strict Islamic regime of Saudi Arabia has been pulled from ITV’s website.
The programme was broadcast last night and drew a huge reaction online.
Many social media users expressed shock at what was shown in the programme, highlighting the treatment of women and schools indoctrinating young students with Islamic extremist views.
Many Twitter users drew attention to the fact that Saudi Arabia is one of the United States and Britain’s closest allies in the region.
Footage for the programme was shot covertly, as media access in Saudi Arabia heavily restricted.
In the documentary, a joint production between ITV and the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States, a number of graphic images of public hangings and beheadings were shown.
At one point five bodies, understood to be those of a group of thieves, are seen being hung from a pole being held up between two cranes.
At another point a woman is shown being beheaded in public.
In a statement responding to the documentary, the British government has said:
The Government has to take decisions about how best to keep our country safe. The Prime Minister’s judgement is that a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia helps us to do that. Our collaboration has foiled terrorist attacks, directly saving British lives.
We should not ignore Saudi Arabia’s important contributions to regional stability including airstrikes against Daesh and speaking out against the group’s murderous ideology.
It went on to say that in the course of Britain’s relationship with Saudi Arabia it has raised the issue of human rights.
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