UK Delays Terror Funding Report Release Over Reluctance to Criticize Riyadh

© AFP 2023 / SAUL LOEBThe skyline of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is seen at night in this aerial photograph from a helicopter.
The skyline of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is seen at night in this aerial photograph from a helicopter. - Sputnik International
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The reason why UK Prime Minister Theresa May has still not ordered the publication of an investigation into the foreign funding and support of extremist groups, which is believed to focus on Saudi Arabia, might be the report's critical stance toward the Arab country, local media reported Tuesday, citing UK lawmakers.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The delay in publishing the investigation, which was commissioned by former UK Prime Minister David Cameron and launched in 2015, "leaves question marks over whether their decision is influenced by our [UK-Saudi Arabian] diplomatic ties," The Guardian newspaper reported citing the Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas.

Lucas has resubmitted her parliamentary question on the whereabouts of the investigation to May earlier this week and received the confirmation that ministers were still "considering advice on what is able to be published and will report to parliament with an update in due course," according to the newspaper.

Campaigners from Amnesty International carry model missiles to Downing Street in central London on March 18, 2016 to highlight the export of UK-manufactered arms to Saudi Arabia - Sputnik International
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A Brighton Pavilion lawmaker said in turn it was important to determine whether the delay of the publication of the inquiry was linked to whether it was critical to Saudi Arabia, the media outlet reported.

On June 1, several UK media outlets reported, citing country's Home Office, that an investigation into the foreign funding of extremist groups may never be published due to its sensitive contents.

The UK government has repeatedly been blamed by humanitarian organizations for fueling the Yemeni conflict by supplying Saudi Arabia with arms. In late 2016, a parliamentary report urged for the suspension arms sales and accused the government of willfully ignoring their misuse.

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