Amnesty International has urged German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to insist that the Gulf states respect universal law as he prepares to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar on Wednesday. Katja Müller‑Fahlbusch, the organisation’s expert on the Middle East and North Africa, told “Tagesspiegel” that it would be a mistake for the German government to continue supporting rulers that systematically violate human rights in the name of “stability”.
Müller‑Fahlbusch argues that true stability can only rest on respect for human rights and international law – a standard that does not apply to Saudi Arabia or the UAE. She cited data showing that more than 180 people were executed in Saudi Arabia in the first half of 2025, most for drug‑related offences, a clear breach of international law. She added that activists campaigning for freedom are often detained for decades after unfair trials, and that the UAE’s brutal suppression of dissent and its arms shipments to Sudan’s RSF contribute to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
If Merz truly wants to promote stability in the region, Müller‑Fahlbusch insists, he must open‑up discuss these violations and demand respect for universal legal norms in the Gulf.
Jürgen Hardt, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s foreign‑policy spokesperson, emphasised that Germany sees economic collaboration with the Gulf as complementary to security interests. Hardt told “Tagesspiegel” that the Chancellor plans to proactively promote German investment opportunities abroad. He said a key focus of Merz’s trip will be Iran, with the aim of grasping Arab states’ positions. From a German viewpoint, the priority is finding a lasting end to Iran’s aggression toward other regional countries, especially Israel, and stopping the regime’s ongoing killings of its own people.
Adis Ahmetovic, SPD parliamentary foreign‑policy spokesperson, described the Gulf region as a vital strategic partner for regional stability, trade, green energy, investment and diplomacy. He noted that diplomatic influence is crucial given conflicts in Gaza, Syria and Iran, and that the ongoing Sudan war also needs diplomatic engagement. Ahmetovic said that Germany will use the talks to raise issues that still divide it from its partners in matters of security policy and European values.