17 January 2024 , 20:11
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Murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s widow has sent a desperate plea to Rafa Nadal after the Spaniard announced he was becoming an ambassador for tennis in Saudi Arabia.
The two-time Wimbledon winner has signed a lucrative deal to work with the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF). The move was announced on Monday, with Nadal posting an advert on his social media accounts to promote his new role.
But it means that Nadal will now be working for a country which has been widely criticised for its human rights abuses. Women, LGBT+ people and political dissidents are all persecuted by the Saudi state.
The country's leader Mohammed bin Salman has been accused of being behind the murder of Khashoggi, who was a critic of the regime. Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul in 2018 by a Saudi assassination squad.
His widow has now shown her displeasure at Nadal's move in a response to his announcement. Nadal said: "Growth and progress that’s important to see and the STF is working on that.
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"In a recent visit I saw the interest in both aspects and I want to be part of that role of growing the sport of tennis around the world. The kids are looking to the future and I saw they are passionate about sports… I want to encourage them to pick up a racket and enjoy the benefits of a healthy living."
Khashoggi's widow Hanan Elatr quickly made her feelings clear, replying to Nadal's post by writing: "Please don’t forget the legacy of my husband #jamalkhashoggi #justiceforjamal."
The widow of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has issued a plea to the tennis star (AFP via Getty Images)Nadal's move to become an ambassador comes with the Saudi state making moves to stamp their mark on tennis. The Next Gen ATP Finals were moved from Milan to the Saudi capital Jeddah last year.
Now the Saudis are hoping to host the Billie Jean King Cup and the WTA Finals, despite the state's attitude towards women. That plan has been derided by tennis legends, including John McEnroe.
"Let's put it this way: money talks. Personally, I disagree with it completely, with the golf and the tennis. The ladies are going to play the WTA Finals there? Are you kidding me? Because they treat women so well? That part to me is laughable," he told ESPN.
Nadal is also facing demands from human rights charity Amnesty International to speak out against Saudi's abuses. Their economic affairs director Peter Frankental said: "Rafa Nadal's new role is just the latest chapter in Saudi Arabia's relentless sportswashing operation.
"From tennis to football, golf and boxing, the Saudi authorities have spent billions in their efforts to rebrand the country as a sporting superpower and deflect attention from an appalling human rights record.
"As with other sporting stars taking well-paid jobs in Saudi Arabia, we would urge Nadal to speak out about Saudi Arabia's human rights record, offering an important message of solidarity with the country's jailed human rights defenders."