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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Aletha Adu

Saudi Arabia ramps up executions in days after Boris Johnson's begging visit

Executions in Saudi Arabia have been ramped up after Boris Johnson claimed to have raised human rights with Mohammed bin Salman.

Since Mr Johnson travelled to the Middle East on an oil begging mission, seven people have been executed.

Three were killed on Wednesday, four on Thursday and one person was murdered on Tuesday, a day before he set off on his travels.

It follows Saudi's largest state killing in the kingdom’s history of 81 men last weekend.

The Prime Minister claimed "things are changing in Saudi Arabia" and insisted there is "value in engaging" with the state.

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud welcomes Boris Johnson in Riyadh (Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock)

When asked if he had raised concerns on their human rights record as three people were executed, the PM remained tight-lipped.

Mr Johnson said: "I always raise human rights issues as British PM before me have done time after time.

"It's best if the details of those conversations are kept private.

"It's most effective that way. Things are changing in Saudi Arabia.

"It's why we see value in engaging in Saudi Arabia. I expressed the longstanding view of the UK Government, as you would expect."

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Maya Foa, director of the human rights advocacy group Reprieve told the Mirror: " Boris Johnson claimed that he raised human rights with Mohammed bin Salman and when asked about the executions stated that 'things are changing in Saudi Arabia', but now we see that nothing has changed.

"The Government has defended cosying up to the Crown Prince on the basis that this partnership allows the UK to have 'frank' conversations with the regime about the death penalty.

"In reality, Boris Johnson's actions have confirmed that Saudi Arabia will face no meaningful consequences, giving the regime a free hand to drastically escalate executions, which are now being carried out daily.

Boris Johnson shakes hands with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"We are extremely concerned that the regime is seeking to clear out its death row, which could be thousands of people including child defendants and pro-democracy protesters. Boris Johnson must publicly condemn these killings or have more blood on his hands.

"There are better and more sustainable ways to deal with the energy crisis than empowering these murderous regimes. We cannot show our revulsion for Putin’s atrocities by rewarding those of Mohammed bin Salman.”

Already in 2022 Saudi Arabia has executed more people than in 2020 and 2021 combined.

The highest recorded number of executions in Saudi Arabia in a year was in 2019 with 186 executions.

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