Brunei has been banned from advertising on the TfL
Transport for London (TfL) has suspended new adverts from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates while it carries out a review of countries with poor human rights records.
Adverts promoting Brunei have already been removed from the TfL network after the country brought in new laws punishing gay sex and adultery with death by stoning.
Details of the review emerged after Green Party London Assembly member Caroline Russell wrote to Mayor Sadiq Khan with concerns about countries with bad human rights records.
TfL has suspended adverts from 11 nations. Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen all have the death penalty for consensual sex between same-sex adults, according to human rights organisations.
Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE, Mauritania and Afghanistan have “possible” death penalties, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). Charities say it is difficult to identify which countries have carried out these punishments.
TfL confirmed that their advertising partners have been asked not to approve any new campaigns from those states and their state-owned entities on the ILGA list while the review is ongoing.
A spokesman for the Mayor said: “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 anti-LGBT+ laws.”
Ms Russell also called on TfL to ensure countries on the ILGA list are not eligible to bid for the Emirates Air Line cable car when its sponsorship comes up for renewal.
She 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.”
