Egyptians Facing Execution
These reports concerning the execution of seven Egyptian men in Saudi Arabia are profoundly distressing. The accounts of coerced confessions, allegations of torture, and the absence of fair legal representation are not only alarming but appear to contravene the most basic principles of justice and international human rights law.
While all countries must uphold law and order, the use of the death penalty cannot be justified. The irreversible nature of capital punishment demands the highest standards of legal scrutiny, transparency, and fairness. In this case, those standards appear to have been gravely undermined.
My Liberal Democrat Parliamentary colleagues and I have consistently championed human rights and international justice. We call on the government to:
- Immediately suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia, particularly in light of its human rights record.
- Strengthen controls on arms exports to countries listed as Human Rights Priority Countries by the Foreign Office.
- Enforce and uphold the rules-based international order, using diplomacy, aid, and trade to promote peace and prevent conflict.
Liberal Democrat colleague peer Lord Scriven recently warned against allowing trade and arms deals to “trump human rights,” urging the UK Government to oppose Saudi Arabia’s bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.
I have raised this matter with the Foreign Secretary and urged the UK Government to make immediate representations to the Saudi authorities. We stand in solidarity with the families of those affected and with all who seek justice and dignity in the face of such harrowing circumstances.
I also commend the work of organisations like Reprieve and Amnesty International, who continue to shine a light on these injustices and advocate for those who are too often voiceless.