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The Foreign Secretary arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday, announcing the British man Karl Andree will be released from Saudi custody after more than a year and would be spared 360 lashes for being found in possession of home made wine. Philip Hammond's visit comes days after the Saudi ambassador to the UK warned of repercussions that could damage Saudi-UK relationships. Ambassador bin Abdulaziz’s concern is that British human rights activism which, he says, fails to respect Islamic laws and culture, could unravel what he called, ‘the mutually strategic partnership’ which delivers prosperity to thousands of Brits. The issue comes hot on the heels of the human rights debates surrounding the recent visit of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping a few days ago, and will set the tone for the forthcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister, Modi in two weeks. The debate raises massive issues. The clash of cultures and ideologies. The merits of democracy. And the awareness that within a lifetime, colonies have become assertively independent. But our global disagreements about human rights and trade unveils monumental questions about principles versus profit – incidentally questions which apply as much in our private and corporate affairs, as in the grand scheme of global politics. Despite the calls from activists to do more, our own government assures us that quiet diplomacy is always on the agenda. In any event, does any nation have the moral right to criticize another? All of us – rich, poor and emerging economies – all contribute to a moral eco system. No nation has a moral high ground; but everyone has collective responsibility to apply peer-group pressure when it seems that principles are being sacrificed for financial profit. It’s as Martin Luther King famously said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ In the Jewish and Christian worldview, loving God and your neighbour as yourself is the moral license to raise important questions about anyone who appears to need our help. In our interconnected and multi-dimensional universe of relationships, our moral neighbourhood of 8 billion people has no borders. In biblical terms, communities in this neighbourhood inhabited by love for God, neighbour and self, will be open to concerns and observations from other communities who are also committed to human progress. Admittedly, these are high ideals and aspirations. Almost ethereal. And inevitably, such ideals are filtered through our pragmatic political interests. But everyone, everywhere should be reminded that profit with diminished principles, may turn out to be unprofitable in the long run.