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The British government has been accused of deliberately avoiding criticism of Saudi Arabia’s executions, with senior Conservative Party officials calling for “stronger” pressure on Gulf states.
Foreign Minister Leo Docherty has voiced his protest after telling parliament that the recent execution of a man did not violate Saudi Arabia’s death penalty freeze for drug crimes.
Hussein Abu al-Khair, the father of eight children, was put to death last month for smuggling amphetamines, but his family alleges he confessed under torture.
Mr Docherty twice told lawmakers the moratorium only applied to drug use, not drug smuggling said to be.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said of the death penalty, “we will get rid of it completely” unless “someone kills another” or “endangers the lives of many people”.
But in response to an urgent question at Commons, Mr. Dorcherty told lawmakers: Related. “
Human rights activists say the remarks are new evidence that the British government is softening criticism of Saudi abuses, arguing that a stronger protest could have halted the executions. there is
Britain has not publicly criticized the planned executions since 2015. That’s when David Cameron’s intervention saved the lives of pro-democracy protesters.
In December, his fellow cabinet minister, David Rattley, called for his statement that Al-Kheal had been “tortured” into a false confession to be removed from parliamentary records, after which he called for a “bones-of-the-bone” statement. No” was branded.
Abdullah Al-Hawaiti was only 14 years old when he was first accused of robbery and murder despite having an alibi.
Former Conservative Minister David Davis said the moratorium referred to “all drug crimes, not just taking drugs”, while former Tory Minister Crispin Brandt said the Foreign Office’s “knowledge” He warned of “concerns”.
Jeed Basyouni of human rights group Reprieve said:
The bipartisan letter urges Foreign Secretary James Cleverley to speak out publicly to clear up confusion about knowledge about the moratorium and “save Abdullah’s life.”
Mr Davis said: I: “I firmly believe that a stronger intervention could have saved Hussein’s life. As history has shown, if we want Saudi Arabia to take us seriously, in the case of imminent execution, The Minister of Foreign Affairs must speak publicly.”
Brandt added: A personal expression is not enough. ”
A foreign ministry spokesman said, “The UK government is in principle opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. recognizing.”