Prof. Lord Paul Alton of Liverpool KCSG, KCMCO (UK House of Lords, Member of the International Relations Committee)
“Whenever the UK Government is challenged about its apparent indifference to Saudi Arabia‘s appalling track record of egregious human rights violations, it justifies its silence by claiming that it uses its significant
economic and security ties to exert back channel pressure. Serial executions – including those of children – and the punitive treatment of anyone who dares to challenge the authoritarianism that lies behind the
regime’s behaviour, underlines how back channel influence is too often a self-serving piece of deceptive fiction. Helena Kennedy’s hugely important report spells out what we can do to make clear that while
children are executed and the rule of law is disregarded it cannot be a case of business as usual with Saudi Arabia.”
Stella Creasy MP (UK Parliament, Labour)
“In a world so divided, it has never been more important to stand up for human rights and for due process and the fair rule of law – no nation can be above these principles, nor can any other overlook them however
powerful those who abuse them are. The UK Government must challenge Saudi Arabia on this situation as a matter of urgency and call for a moratorium on executions given these concerns.”
Baroness Vivien Stern CBE (UK House of Lords, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Abolition of the Death Penalty)
“I welcome this timely and important report on the shocking level of use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Following China and Iran, Saudi Arabia executed the highest number of people in 2018. These
executions occurred alongside multiple human rights abuses in terms of arrests, prosecutions, trials, appeals and the methods used to carry out the death penalty. Too little is done by the international community to bring Saudi Arabia to account for its human rights abuses and it is hoped that this report will stimulate further action.”
Lord Michael Cashman CBE (UK House of Lords)
“These continuing executions in Saudi Arabia should cause the deepest concern in every country that considers itself civilised. It is truly appalling.”
Bianca Jagger, Goodwill Ambassador for the Council of Europe and campaigner against the death penalty
“This Report presents the horrific extent of the human rights abuses by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its total disregard for international standards and laws. This appalling use of the death penalty against children and anyone who opposes the regime is indicative of its ruthless authoritarianism.”
Hon. Fabio Massimo Castaldo (Vice-President of the EU Parliament)
Sr. Castaldo MEP has addressed a parliamentary question to the EU Parliament in light of the Report, concerning the EU’s stance on the
widespread use of the death penalty by Saudi Arabia against political opponents, human rights defenders,
clerics, activists, and children.
Senator Emma Bonino OMRI, CdrLH (Member of the Senate of the Republic, Italy; former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy and former EU Commissioner)
“Baroness Kennedy’s report on the death penalty in Saudi Arabia presented at the House of Commons in London paints a chilling picture. In addition to the 134 people who were executed only in the first half of
2019, including dissidents, political prisoners, and many minors, here are at least 24 others who are at imminent risk of execution. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye, and accept the normalization of state
violence as a form of government in Saudi Arabia”.
