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| Bahrain's King Hamad al-Khalifa and Swaziland's King Mswati III are both expected |
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has condemned the Queen's decision to invite "dictator monarchs" to her Diamond Jubilee celebrations today. She will host the royal autocrats for lunch at Windsor Castle and for dinner at Buckingham Palace. "It is outrageous that the Queen has invited royal tyrants to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. She should not host the monarchs of countries such as Brunei, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland and United Arab Emirates. All of them preside over regimes that abuse human rights,” said Mr Tatchell, who is Director of the human rights campaign group, the Peter Tatchell Foundation.
“Inviting blood-stained despots brings shame to our monarchy and tarnishes the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It is a kick in the teeth to pro-democracy campaigners and political prisoners in these totalitarian royal regimes."
“The invitations should be withdrawn immediately, as a mark of respect for those who have been murdered, arrested, jailed and tortured."
"Buckingham Palace's refusal to confirm the guest list is arrogant and anti-democratic. As the Head of State of a democratic nation, the Queen should be transparent and accountable to the public. This secrecy and evasion is the enemy of democracy. The vast majority of the British people would not want the Queen to wine and dine these vile dictators."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18099937
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