‘Britain ignores basic human rights values by supporting repressive Saudi regime’

A British charity has slammed the government for ignoring its basic human rights values by supporting the Saudi regime’s prison system as well as its inhuman and unjust sentences.

Charity “Reprieve” has expressed shock over London’s support to Riyadh despite the latter’s plans to crucify Ali Mohammed al-Nimr for alleged anti-regime offences.

“It is extremely worrying to see the British government abdicating its basic human rights values in the interests of cozying up to the Saudis. British complicity in gross abuses such as these is unacceptable and has to stop,” Maya Foa, Director of the death penalty team at Reprieve said.

Ali al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 when he was just 17, during a crackdown on anti-government protests in eastern Qatif province. He was accused of participation in illegal protests and carrying firearms which Ali and his family have strongly denied. He was later sentenced to death by crucifixion on hosts of charges including insulting the Saudi monarch.

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