 |
answer text |
<p>We welcome the decision by Saudi Arabia to end the use of the death penalty as
a discretionary punishment for minors, including those under the age of 18 at the
time of the alleged crime.</p><p>We remain concerned about the cases of Ali al Nimr,
Dawood al Marhoon and Abdullah Hasan al-Zaher, and continue to follow them closely.</p><p>The
Saudi authorities understand our position that we oppose the death penalty in all
circumstances and especially in cases that involve child defendants. This position
is in line with the minimum standards set out in the 2008 EU Guidelines on the Death
Penalty; the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
and, the Arab Charter on Human Rights.</p><p>The former Minister for the Middle East
and North Africa raised our concerns about the death penalty with Deputy Justice Minister
HE Abdullah Al Sulaimi on 11 February. The Foreign Secretary also raised our human
rights concerns with Saudi Arabia during his visit in March this year.</p><p>We will
continue to raise our concerns with the Government of Saudi Arabia to promote the
protection of all child defendants against the death penalty regardless of the crime
committed. We will encourage the authorities to review death penalty judgements for
all minors, or individuals who were minors when the crime was committed.</p>
|
|
