F1 seven-time world champions Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton raced in a rainbow-coloured helmet for last season's Saudi Arabian and Qatari grands prix. On Friday he said: "Ultimately it is the responsibility of those in power to make the changes and we're not really seeing enough. We need to see more."

On the eve of Saudi Arabia's second ever grand prix, Lewis Hamilton repeated his call for the country to improve its human rights record.

The Gulf kingdom is accused of using high-profile events to wash its reputation in other parts of the world.

Last year, a group led by Saudi Arabia bought a club in the premier league.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund gave legal assurances that the deal was not run by the state.

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, but that they are duty bound to raise awareness.

Saudi Arabian involvement in sport has been controversial.

Use of the death penalty

Saudi Arabia carries out the most executions.

In March, it executed 81 men in a single day, more than in the whole of last year. They were convicted of multiple heinous crimes, including terrorism, kidnapping and rape.

There have been more than 100 executions so far this year, according to Reprieve.

The government denies that many do not receive fair trials in Saudi Arabia.

The case of Abdullah al-Howaiti, who was sentenced to death at 17 years old, was referenced by Hamilton. His family wants Hamilton to intervene.

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Murder of a dissident journalist

The killing of a Saudi journalist in the United States has badly damaged Saudi Arabia's international standing.

UN-appointed human rights expert Agnes Callamard said Saudi agents had "used state means to execute Mr Khashoggi" at its Istanbul consulate.

Saudi Arabia's defacto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and other senior officials were implicated. The crown prince's reputation was badly damaged.

The Public Investment Fund was allowed to buy an 80% stake in the club.

There is an overview.

Jailing of women's rights activists

Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul is pictured on her way to the state security court in the Saudi capital Riyadh on March 2, 2021
Loujain al-Hathloul was released in February after after almost three years in detention

13 women's rights activists were arrested in Saudi Arabia in the middle of last year.

At least four of the women were allegedly tortured and sexually harassed by interrogators.

Loujain al-Hathloul, the most prominent activist, was found guilty of crimes against the state in 2020.

After the original sentence was upheld at an appeal, Amnesty International's Lynn Maalouf said: "By failing to quash Loujain al-Hathloul's conviction, the Saudi Arabian authorities have clearly demonstrated that they consider peaceful activism a crime."

Crackdown on intellectuals, clerics and reformists

Areej al-Sadhan her brother Abdul Rahman's graduation
Areej al-Sadhan said her brother Abdul Rahman was tortured before being jailed for 20 years for writing satirical tweets that criticised authorities

Women's rights activists have not been the only people taken into custody as part of the Saudi Arabia's campaign against critics.

Dozens of human rights defenders, intellectuals, academics, clerics and reformists have also been arrested since 2017, merely for exercising their right to freedom of expression, according to international human rights organisations.

Many have faced what Amnesty International has said were grossly unfair trials on vague terrorism and cybercrime charges, and received harsh sentences, including the death penalty.

A court upheld a 20-year prison sentence for a Saudi-American aid worker who was sentenced for writing satirical tweets.

His sister, Areej, said he was tortured before his conviction.

The devastating war in Yemen

A man walks through the remains of a building destroyed in a Saudi-led coalition air strike in rebel-held Sanaa, Yemen (7 October 2021)
The war in Yemen has triggered what the UN says is the world's worst humanitarian crisis

A military campaign in Yemen has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.

The president of Yemen fled abroad after the rebels seized control of much of the west of the country.

More than 100,000 people have reportedly been killed in the fighting.

Tens of thousands of people have died from indirect causes, such as lack of food, health services and infrastructure. Efforts to help the 20 million people in need of humanitarian aid have been hampered by a partial blockade by the coalition.

UN experts say both sides in the conflict may have committed war crimes, though the coalition has insisted it is abiding by the rules of war.

Punishment of same-sex relations

Sexual relations outside of marriage, including homosexual sex, are not allowed in Saudi Arabia.

Under the country's interpretation of Islamic law, the death penalty is a possible punishment for same-sex sexual conduct.

It is against the law for men to behave like women or wear women's clothes.

Online activity that goes against public order and religious morals is criminalized by an anti-cybercrime law.

In July 2020, a court sentenced a Yemeni blogger to 10 months in prison and then deportation for posting a video calling for equal rights, including for gay people.