Lewis Hamilton & Newcastle: Why is Saudi Arabia's involvement in sport controversial?

Britain's seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has repeated his call for Saudi Arabia to improve its human rights record on the eve of the country's second ever grand prix.

The Gulf kingdom is one of the states accused of investing in sport and using high-profile events to 'sports wash' its reputation in other parts of the world.

Premier League club Newcastle were bought last year by a group led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund — prompting similar concerns.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which provided 80% of funds for the deal, gave the Premier League «legally binding assurances» that it was run separately from the state.

Many Newcastle fans welcomed the takeover, but critics condemned the deal as «an extremely bitter blow for human rights defenders».

Hamilton says he is not comfortable racing in the country and that it is not the driver's «responsibility» where to race — but that they are «duty bound» to raise awareness.

Here are some of the reasons why Saudi Arabi's involvement in sport has proved controversial.

Saudi Arabia is among the countries carrying out the most executions.

In March it executed 81 men in a single day — more than during the whole of last year. They were convicted of «multiple heinous crimes», including terrorism, kidnapping and rape, state news agency SPA said.

Human rights group Reprieve has said there have been a further 16 executions since then, and 108 in total so far this year.

Rights organisations say many do not receive fair trials in Saudi Arabia, an allegation the government rejects.

Hamilton also referenced the case of Abdullah al-Howaiti, who was arrested in 2017 aged 14 and sentenced to death aged 17. His family have written to Hamilton to ask him to intervene.

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