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| Karl Andree case: David Cameron to write to Saudi government | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron will write to the Saudi Arabian government about a UK pensioner imprisoned for possessing alcohol, Downing Street has said. | |
| It follows concern from the children of Karl Andree that the 74-year-old will receive 360 lashes for the crime. | |
| But BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said Saudi and UK officials had assured him "there was never any question" of Mr Andree being flogged. | |
| Delays in Saudi bureaucracy meant his release papers were held up, he said. | |
| Our correspondent said Saudi officials had given private assurances to the UK Foreign Office. | |
| Mr Andree has already spent more than a year in prison since being arrested by Saudi religious police. | |
| His daughter, Kirsten Piroth, told BBC News her father - who has suffered from three types of cancer - "would not survive" the punishment lashes. | |
| Alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia and Mrs Piroth said her father was transporting homemade wine in his car in August 2014 when he was pulled over and arrested. | |
| The prime minister's official spokeswoman said this was a "extremely concerning" case, and the government had already raised the matter with the Saudi government "several times". | The prime minister's official spokeswoman said this was a "extremely concerning" case, and the government had already raised the matter with the Saudi government "several times". |
| But she denied there was any connection between Mr Andree's case and the government's cancellation of a £5.9m prisons deal with Saudi Arabia. | But she denied there was any connection between Mr Andree's case and the government's cancellation of a £5.9m prisons deal with Saudi Arabia. |
| 'Not very well' | 'Not very well' |
| Mr Andree's one-year prison sentence is now complete and Mrs Piroth said her family had been "led to believe" the lashes would not be given due to her father's age and health. | Mr Andree's one-year prison sentence is now complete and Mrs Piroth said her family had been "led to believe" the lashes would not be given due to her father's age and health. |
| But she said there now "seems to be some question mark" over that. | But she said there now "seems to be some question mark" over that. |
| "He's an old man, he's 74, he's survived three types of cancer with very strong cancer treatments, he's asthmatic, he has gout - he's not very well," she said. | "He's an old man, he's 74, he's survived three types of cancer with very strong cancer treatments, he's asthmatic, he has gout - he's not very well," she said. |
| "He's got a great spirit but his bodily health is not great and I just feel like he received his sentence and he did his time and I just want him home now." | "He's got a great spirit but his bodily health is not great and I just feel like he received his sentence and he did his time and I just want him home now." |
| She said time was "of the essence" due to her father's age, adding that he had "paid for what he did" in Saudi Arabia and should now be released. | She said time was "of the essence" due to her father's age, adding that he had "paid for what he did" in Saudi Arabia and should now be released. |
| Asked if she was happy with the help given by UK authorities, she said: "I don't really understand why it's taking so long because it's my understanding in that system that it needs... a phone call to the right person and he could be released." | Asked if she was happy with the help given by UK authorities, she said: "I don't really understand why it's taking so long because it's my understanding in that system that it needs... a phone call to the right person and he could be released." |
| Mr Andree's son Simon told the BBC his father had "enjoyed living in Saudi Arabia for 25 years and has been very happy there". | Mr Andree's son Simon told the BBC his father had "enjoyed living in Saudi Arabia for 25 years and has been very happy there". |
| He said he understood the laws and regretted what had happened. | He said he understood the laws and regretted what had happened. |
| "But he should be released," he said. "My mother has dementia and is deteriorating quite rapidly and my father really wants to come back and see her." | "But he should be released," he said. "My mother has dementia and is deteriorating quite rapidly and my father really wants to come back and see her." |
| 'Severe' punishments | 'Severe' punishments |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Our embassy staff are continuing to assist Mr Andree, including regular visits to check on his welfare, and frequent contact with his lawyer and family. | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Our embassy staff are continuing to assist Mr Andree, including regular visits to check on his welfare, and frequent contact with his lawyer and family. |
| "Ministers and senior officials have raised Mr Andree's case with the Saudi government and we are actively seeking his release as soon as possible." | "Ministers and senior officials have raised Mr Andree's case with the Saudi government and we are actively seeking his release as soon as possible." |
| The Foreign Office website warns that penalties for possessing alcohol in Saudi Arabia are "severe". | The Foreign Office website warns that penalties for possessing alcohol in Saudi Arabia are "severe". |
| It also warns of Saudi laws against women driving, adultery, homosexuality and drug smuggling - with the last punishable by death. | It also warns of Saudi laws against women driving, adultery, homosexuality and drug smuggling - with the last punishable by death. |
| Last month Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on UK Prime Minister David Cameron to press Saudi authorities to reduce the sentence of a protester sentenced to death in the country. | Last month Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on UK Prime Minister David Cameron to press Saudi authorities to reduce the sentence of a protester sentenced to death in the country. |
| Do you live in Saudi Arabia? What is your reaction to this story? Share your comments. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Do you live in Saudi Arabia? What is your reaction to this story? Share your comments. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |