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The government has been accused of dropping its commitment to opposing the death penalty as Britain seeks re-election to a United Nations human rights body. | |
A blogpost by the Foreign Office minister Lady Anelay this week makes no mention of UK objections to the death penalty – a policy once hailed as a human rights priority for the government. | |
Posted on the eve of International Human Rights Day, the article presents the case for the UK’s re-election to the UN’s human rights council, a position it has held with the support of Saudi Arabia. | |
Earlier this year WikiLeaks documents detailed diplomatic exchanges and vote-trading deals between Riyadh and London dating back to 2013. Saudi Arabia, also elected to the UNHRC in 2013, has recently increased the number of executions it carries out. | Earlier this year WikiLeaks documents detailed diplomatic exchanges and vote-trading deals between Riyadh and London dating back to 2013. Saudi Arabia, also elected to the UNHRC in 2013, has recently increased the number of executions it carries out. |
Last month, Amnesty International warned that Saudi Arabia is planning to carry out 50 executions in a day. Among those thought to be at risk is Ali al-Nimr, who was only 17 when he was sentenced to death by crucifixion for participating in an illegal demonstration. Saudi Arabia has so far executed more than 150 people this year - its highest figure since 1995. | |
The human rights organisation Reprieve, which campaigns against the death penalty, said a consistent pattern of FCO statements had emerged. Maya Foa, head of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said: “In the past few months we’ve seen the government steadily row back its commitment to human rights. | |
“Shamefully, this has included scrapping our commitment to end the death penalty, at a time when countries including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt are overseeing a surge in executions. The government should be using its seat on the human rights council to address these grave concerns – rather than skirting sensitive issues to spare the blushes of states like Saudi Arabia, where political prisoners face imminent beheading and crucifixion.” | “Shamefully, this has included scrapping our commitment to end the death penalty, at a time when countries including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt are overseeing a surge in executions. The government should be using its seat on the human rights council to address these grave concerns – rather than skirting sensitive issues to spare the blushes of states like Saudi Arabia, where political prisoners face imminent beheading and crucifixion.” |
Anelay’s blogpost declares: “Our pledges are grounded in UK priorities at home and abroad, and draw on a tradition of democratic and inclusive values: strengthening the protection of human rights in the UN’s work; translating the 2030 agenda on sustainable development into action, leaving no one behind; making a stand for freedom of religion or belief at a time when too many are persecuted for their beliefs; working to end violence against women and promoting their full participation and leadership in political and economic life; and promoting open societies and challenging the threats to civil society.” | |
In the past, the FCO has denied that its policy has changed. In the summer, a spokesperson said: “We remain committed to advancing global abolition of the death penalty and it is wrong to suggest otherwise. The government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle and we would like to see the long-term trend towards abolition continue throughout this parliament.” |