Prince Charles was praised by human rights groups last night after he
intervened to try and help a blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes in Saudi
Arabia.
The prince met with Saudi’s new King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during his Middle East tour and sources revealed he took the chance to mention blogger Raif Badawi, whose brutal treatment has sent shockwaves round the world.
Saudi writer and dad-of-three Raif, 31, was sentenced to 50 lashes every week for 20 weeks and 10 years in prison for running a blog which was accused of criticising Islam.
A diabetic, he received his first 50 lashes on January 9 and
since then doctors have said his wounds have not healed enough for him
to be beaten again.
Charles had a private meeting with the Arab monarch in his private compound, Al Erga Palace in Riyadh before sitting down to a lavish 40-minute lunch.
Afterwards a source said: “It is understood the issue was raised by the prince during his meeting with King Salman.
“The reaction from the King was not unfriendly.”
Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said: “This is of course very encouraging and very welcome news.
“We always said we weren’t expecting Prince Charles to give up the red carpets and state banquets and become a human rights campaigner, but we also hoped he’d use his unique position to pass on a few well-chosen words to his royal hosts about human rights in Saudi Arabia.
“From the various briefings from the Palace this week, we we’re cautiously hopeful that Prince Charles would raise Mr Badawi’s outrageous case.
“We still need the UK government to do more on Raif’s case -
including specifically calling for him to be released - but Charles’
diplomatic intercession could help secure this man’s freedom.”
Former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sir William Patey, said in an interview with the BBC that Charles has a way of raising human rights issues that does not make the Saudis “bristle”.
Charles also knows Arabia’s royal family well and was among the world figures who travelled to the country to pay their respects last month following the death of King Abdullah, aged 90.
Simon Collis, Britain’s current ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said: “Royal to royal links have a particular value... these kinds of visits are capable of having significant impact.
“Any conversation that does happen is not just going to be an exchange of platitudes, because they are past that.”
The visit is Prince Charles’ twelfth trip to Saudi Arabia which has been strongly criticised for its treatment of women and human rights abuse record.
He is on a six day tour of the Middle East also stopping in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.
The prince met with Saudi’s new King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during his Middle East tour and sources revealed he took the chance to mention blogger Raif Badawi, whose brutal treatment has sent shockwaves round the world.
Saudi writer and dad-of-three Raif, 31, was sentenced to 50 lashes every week for 20 weeks and 10 years in prison for running a blog which was accused of criticising Islam.
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Charles had a private meeting with the Arab monarch in his private compound, Al Erga Palace in Riyadh before sitting down to a lavish 40-minute lunch.
Afterwards a source said: “It is understood the issue was raised by the prince during his meeting with King Salman.
“The reaction from the King was not unfriendly.”
Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said: “This is of course very encouraging and very welcome news.
“We always said we weren’t expecting Prince Charles to give up the red carpets and state banquets and become a human rights campaigner, but we also hoped he’d use his unique position to pass on a few well-chosen words to his royal hosts about human rights in Saudi Arabia.
“From the various briefings from the Palace this week, we we’re cautiously hopeful that Prince Charles would raise Mr Badawi’s outrageous case.
 |
Former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sir William Patey, said in an interview with the BBC that Charles has a way of raising human rights issues that does not make the Saudis “bristle”.
Charles also knows Arabia’s royal family well and was among the world figures who travelled to the country to pay their respects last month following the death of King Abdullah, aged 90.
Simon Collis, Britain’s current ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said: “Royal to royal links have a particular value... these kinds of visits are capable of having significant impact.
“Any conversation that does happen is not just going to be an exchange of platitudes, because they are past that.”
The visit is Prince Charles’ twelfth trip to Saudi Arabia which has been strongly criticised for its treatment of women and human rights abuse record.
He is on a six day tour of the Middle East also stopping in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.
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