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Hypocritical: Messi’s trip to Gabon slammed by Human Rights Foundation

By Allsports.com.gh
Sports News Hypocritical: Messis trip to Gabon slammed by Human Rights Foundation
AUG 3, 2015 LISTEN

The recent visit by Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi to Gabon has been condemned as 'hypocritical' by the Human Rights Foundation, who released a statement saying his trip to the country also 'seriously undermines the credibility of his own charitable foundation'.

Messi visited Gabon on July 17 to endorse and give his backing to Ali Bongo, Gabon's ruler, during the preparations for the hosting of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Messi was seen enthusiastically taking part in events with Bongo, and was even present at the inauguration of a restaurant owned by the dictator's family.

The New York based HRF, which promotes and protects human rights globally, published the statement on its website and said that while Messi 'claims to support children's rights and even serves as a UNICEF ambassador to promote youth education, he has endorsed a kleptocratic regime that refuses to investigate the ritual murder of children in Gabon'.

According to HRF, the family of Gabon's president, Ali Bongo, who took over from his father in 2009 after more than 40 years in power, has exerted complete control over Gabonese politics, economics, and society since 1967.

"Messi's trip is part of the Bongo family's PR campaign to promote the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, which Gabon will host at enormous expense despite the fact that the Bongo family's embezzlement has left 20% of the population to live on less than $2 per day," say HRF.

According to the organisation, the Bongo family treat the national treasury like a private bank account, 'skimming off as much as 25% of the nations GDP for their own personal use', and overall the regime in Gabon is "one of the world's most repressive and corrupt".

'It's shocking, given the recent public humiliation endured by Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, and Kanye West, that Messi's management and the athlete himself would consider putting his prestige at the service of a serial human rights abuser,' said HRF Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein.

'If Messi wants to do good in Gabon, HRF recommends that rather than partying with oppressors, he release a statement in solidarity with the country's persecuted dissidents and environmentalists, and press the regime to investigate the ritual murders of children,' said Gladstein.

Credit:  as.com

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