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<p>The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances,
as a matter of principle. This is especially the case for juveniles and for crimes
other than the most serious. This is in line with the provisions of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Arab Charter on Human Rights. We regularly
raise our concerns about use of the death penalty with the Saudi Arabian authorities.
We utilise a range of Ministerial and diplomatic channels, including our Ambassador
and British Embassy officials in Riyadh. I raised the death penalty with Dr Awwad
al Awwad, President of Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Commission during my virtual visit
in July. The Minister for human rights, Lord Ahmad, raised the death penalty in a
call with Dr Awwad in June and raised a range of human rights concerns during his
visit last September. The Foreign Secretary raised human rights during his visit in
March this year. In February, the Saudi Deputy Justice Minister, HE Abdullah Al Sulaimi,
visited the UK. My predecessor raised the death penalty with him, as did our officials.
The UK Ambassador to Saudi Arabia raised the death penalty with Dr Awwad al Awwad
in February.</p>
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