Transport for London suspends adverts from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates due to poor human rights
TfL have already banned ads from Brunei as well as Iran, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Transport for London has suspended adverts from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates due to their poor human rights records.
The Standard report that ads promoting Brunei – which invoked a death penalty law for gay men – have already been removed and now TfL has suspended adverts from 11 nations where sex between same-sex adults is punishable by death.
These countries include Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
According to the International Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE, Mauritania and Afghanistan have ‘possible’ death penalties.
Now, TfL have confirmed that their advertising partners have been asked to not approve any new campaigns from these states.
Green Party London Assembly member Caroline Russell wrote to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and said: “Regimes that use the death penalty and breach human rights shouldn’t be allowed to advertise on TfL. It’s a matter of principle.”
Spokesperson for Sadiq added: “The Mayor is immensely proud that London is a city where you are free to be whoever you want to be, and love whoever you want to love.
“TfL adverts are seen by millions of people every year, and given the global role London plays championing LGBT+ rights, the Mayor has asked that TfL review how it treats advertising and sponsorship from countries with abhorrent anti-LGBT+ laws.”