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| Prince Charles to meet Saudi Arabia's new king | Prince Charles to meet Saudi Arabia's new king |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Prince of Wales has arrived in Saudi Arabia where he will meet the country's new king, amid calls from campaigners over human rights concerns. | |
| Prince Charles has been urged to raise the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam". | Prince Charles has been urged to raise the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam". |
| The prince will also meet Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muqrin, along with senior government figures. | The prince will also meet Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muqrin, along with senior government figures. |
| He has visited Jordan and Kuwait so far during his six-day Middle East tour. | He has visited Jordan and Kuwait so far during his six-day Middle East tour. |
| Prince Charles was among a number of world leaders who travelled to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, last month to pay his respects following the death of the nation's King Abdullah, aged 90. | Prince Charles was among a number of world leaders who travelled to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, last month to pay his respects following the death of the nation's King Abdullah, aged 90. |
| King Abdullah was succeeded by his 79-year-old half-brother, Salman. | King Abdullah was succeeded by his 79-year-old half-brother, Salman. |
| Amnesty International has urged Prince Charles to raise the case of Mr Badawi during his latest visit, calling on him to "pass on a few well chosen words" to the new Saudi king. | Amnesty International has urged Prince Charles to raise the case of Mr Badawi during his latest visit, calling on him to "pass on a few well chosen words" to the new Saudi king. |
| Mr Badai had been sentenced to receive 1,000 lashes over 20 weeks - 50 lashes a week - and was given the first round on 9 January. | Mr Badai had been sentenced to receive 1,000 lashes over 20 weeks - 50 lashes a week - and was given the first round on 9 January. |
| However, his subsequent floggings have been postponed. | However, his subsequent floggings have been postponed. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell | BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell |
| Prince Charles has a reputation - some might say a notoriety - for speaking up on matters of concern. | Prince Charles has a reputation - some might say a notoriety - for speaking up on matters of concern. |
| As he arrives in Saudi Arabia, he faces a more-than-usually delicate diplomatic challenge. | As he arrives in Saudi Arabia, he faces a more-than-usually delicate diplomatic challenge. |
| Will he speak up when he meets the new Saudi king, Salman, and raise the case of a Saudi citizen whose treatment has outraged human rights groups and is a matter of "serious concern" to the British government? | Will he speak up when he meets the new Saudi king, Salman, and raise the case of a Saudi citizen whose treatment has outraged human rights groups and is a matter of "serious concern" to the British government? |
| Charles is neither a politician nor a diplomat. But he does undertake these tours at the request of Her Majesty's Government to represent and bolster British interests. | Charles is neither a politician nor a diplomat. But he does undertake these tours at the request of Her Majesty's Government to represent and bolster British interests. |
| He also has a good and long-standing relationship with the Saudi royal family. | He also has a good and long-standing relationship with the Saudi royal family. |
| He is respected, both as a fellow royal and, importantly, as someone with a genuine interest in the Islamic faith. | He is respected, both as a fellow royal and, importantly, as someone with a genuine interest in the Islamic faith. |
| All of that gives Charles an authority in Saudi eyes, which is probably greater than that of any practising British politician. | All of that gives Charles an authority in Saudi eyes, which is probably greater than that of any practising British politician. |
| So, just possibly, when Charles meets King Salman today, he will speak up and privately raise the plight of a man who has been locked away in a Saudi prison cell. | So, just possibly, when Charles meets King Salman today, he will speak up and privately raise the plight of a man who has been locked away in a Saudi prison cell. |
| 'Outrageous case' | 'Outrageous case' |
| No official reason has been given, but human rights groups say Mr Badawi was reported to be physically unfit to face the penalty after receiving the first flogging. | No official reason has been given, but human rights groups say Mr Badawi was reported to be physically unfit to face the penalty after receiving the first flogging. |
| Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK director, said Prince Charles' "diplomatic intercession" could help secure his freedom. | Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK director, said Prince Charles' "diplomatic intercession" could help secure his freedom. |
| "We know that freedom of religion is an issue close to the prince's heart, and in Saudi Arabia he will surely want to raise the outrageous case of Raif Badawi, the blogger jailed and flogged for discussing politics and religion on his website," she said. | "We know that freedom of religion is an issue close to the prince's heart, and in Saudi Arabia he will surely want to raise the outrageous case of Raif Badawi, the blogger jailed and flogged for discussing politics and religion on his website," she said. |
| During the six-day tour, Prince Charles has already held bilateral talks with Jordan's King Abdullah and met Christian refugees from Iraq at the British ambassador's residence in Amman, the Jordanian capital. | During the six-day tour, Prince Charles has already held bilateral talks with Jordan's King Abdullah and met Christian refugees from Iraq at the British ambassador's residence in Amman, the Jordanian capital. |
| He also visited a refugee camp near the Jordanian border with war-torn Syria. | He also visited a refugee camp near the Jordanian border with war-torn Syria. |
| He also held talks with the Emir of Kuwait before taking part in a sunset ceremony on the warship HMS Dauntless, which is on a routine deployment in Kuwait. | He also held talks with the Emir of Kuwait before taking part in a sunset ceremony on the warship HMS Dauntless, which is on a routine deployment in Kuwait. |
| The Prince of Wales is also due to visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates before returning home. | The Prince of Wales is also due to visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates before returning home. |