Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Saudi Arabia will no longer issue business visas to Swedish nationals or renew the visas of Swedes living within its borders, the country’s regime has said.
The move comes days after Sweden’s recently elected centre-left government criticised Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and ended a defence cooperation agreement between the two countries.
On Wednesday Saudi Arabia also recalled its ambassador in Stockholm in protest.
Sweden’s feminist foreign minister Margot Wallström last week described the flogging of liberal Saudi blogger Raif Badawi as “medieval” in sharp contrast to the restrained responses from other countries, including the UK.
The country is a huge customer for Swedish arms firms and bought $39m of Swedish military equipment last year alone. Saudi Arabia recently became the world’s biggest arms importer.
Saudi Arabia is an autocratic monarchy with a widely criticised human rights record.
Women’s rights are especially limited in the Kingdom, where they are prohibited by law from driving a car or travelling without a male chaperone.
Beheading and flogging are still used as punishments under the country’s criminal code, which is based on Sharia law.
Criticism of Saudi Arabia is seen as off-limits by the governments of many Western countries because of its huge oil reserves and importance as a military ally of the Western powers.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments