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Prince Charles raises blogger case with new Saudi king | Prince Charles raises blogger case with new Saudi king |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Prince of Wales has raised the issue of jailed blogger Raif Badawi during his first meeting with Saudi Arabia's new king. | The Prince of Wales has raised the issue of jailed blogger Raif Badawi during his first meeting with Saudi Arabia's new king. |
Prince Charles had been urged by human rights campaigners to discuss the case during his visit. | Prince Charles had been urged by human rights campaigners to discuss the case during his visit. |
Saudi blogger Mr Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam". | Saudi blogger Mr Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam". |
The detail of what was said during the private talk between the prince and King Salman has not been revealed. | The detail of what was said during the private talk between the prince and King Salman has not been revealed. |
Sir William Patey, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, earlier told the BBC that Prince Charles had a way of raising human rights issues that did not make the Saudis "bristle". | Sir William Patey, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, earlier told the BBC that Prince Charles had a way of raising human rights issues that did not make the Saudis "bristle". |
The prince also met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muqrin, along with senior government figures. | The prince also met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muqrin, along with senior government figures. |
He has also visited Jordan and Kuwait so far during his six-day Middle East tour. | He has also 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 had 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 had 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 Badawi 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 Badawi 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 | |
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell | |
The atmosphere over a lavish lunch at King Salman's palace in Riyadh was friendly, according to British officials. | |
It was during this lunch and the private discussions Prince Charles had with the king that Charles raised the question of jailed blogger Raif Badawi. | |
Charles enjoys a high level of respect among the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. | |
He's known them for a long time and they unquestionably feel more comfortable dealing with a fellow royal than what to them would be a "mere" elected politician. | |
That, and Charles' long-standing engagement with Islam, means that they will take an intervention on a sensitive issue from him without feeling that they're being lectured. | |
Of course it's one thing to raise the issue but it's quite another to persuade the Saudis to take any notice. | |
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. |
During the six-day tour, Prince Charles has already held 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 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. |