Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
(Picture: via REUTERS)Britain is to raise human rights issues with Saudi Arabia’s authorities after the Gulf state executed 81 people in one day, Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said on Monday.
The killings, which took place on Saturday, are thought to be the highest number of executions carried out by Saudi Arabia in a 24 hour period.
Mr Johnson’s spokesman criticised the use of the death penalty and said the UK would not “shy away” from raising the issue with other countries.
The comments come amid reports that Mr Johnson is set to visit the country for talks with ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at raising Saudi Arabia’s production of oil and gas to reduce the West’s reliance on Russia.
"The UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances in every country as a matter of principle and we routinely raise human rights issues with other countries including Saudi Arabia and will be raising Saturday’s executions with the government in Riyadh,” said the spokesman.
MPs are set to debate the killings in the Commons later on Monday after Tory MP Crispin Blunt tabled an urgent question on the executions.
Britain’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia could become crucial to easing a crunch to global oil and fuel supplies after the UK, US and EU have said they will ban or phase out Russian oil and gas imports over the coming months to pile economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Government wanted to reduce volatility in the oil market and bring down prices.
Asked whether the UK would like to see the Saudis increase oil production, the spokesman said: "We will be speaking to the Saudis about a range of issues, not just energy supply.
"Diversifying our energy supply is important, as is boosting renewable energy. There are no quick fixes but we do want to reduce the volatility and bring prices down."
Earlier Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Britain had a "very candid and frank" relationship with the Gulf state.
He told LBC: "We’ve had a long-standing relationship with the Saudi government where there’s always a very frank exchange. We don’t agree with their approach on human rights - we’re always right to call that out and to talk to them, frankly, about that.
"At the same time, it is also possible to have an economic relationship. You know, whether people like it or not, Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest producer of crude oil and it’s important, especially at the time of a major global energy crisis, that we have these talks with them."
Polly Truscott, Amnesty International UK’s Foreign Affairs Human Rights Adviser, said: "The shocking news about mass executions in Saudi Arabia makes it more important than ever that the Prime Minister challenges the Saudi authorities over their absolutely appalling human rights record and that he speaks publicly about human rights during this trip.
"Understandably much of the world’s attention is currently focused on Ukraine, but Saudi Arabia mustn’t be allowed a free pass over the civilians being killed by Saudi coalition airstrikes in Yemen.
"The key point is that Saudi oil shouldn’t be allowed to buy the world’s silence over Saudi Arabia’s terrible human rights record."
According to the Saudi Press Agency, which reported the killings, the accused were “provided with the right to an attorney and were guaranteed their full rights under Saudi law during the judicial process, which found them guilty of committing multiple heinous crimes that left a large number of civilians and law enforcement officers dead.”
