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EU 'must be pro-active in defending human rights in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait'

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floggedALDE MEPs have expressed their concern about the worsening human-rights situation in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. Authorities in Bahrain recently carried out three executions, ending a seven-year moratorium on the death penalty, while seven people were executed in Kuwait. 

In Saudi Arabia, the family of the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, winner of the 2015 EP Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, has no news about his health. Raif Badawi was sentenced to ten years in prison and a thousand lashes for “insulting Islam through electronic channels” and “going beyond the realm of obedience”.

Human rights are repeatedly violated in Saudi Arabia. ALDE MEPs agree that the EU must monitor the human rights’ situation in the region closely and become more actively involved. This is why ALDE MEPs find it essential that independent monitors are given access to the three countries.

MEP Petras Auštrevičius (Liberal Movement of Lithuania), ALDE Coordinator in the Subcommittee on Human Rights, said the European Parliament should consider sending a fact-finding mission to the Arab Peninsula: “It is unimaginable that in modern times, Raif Badawi, the laureate of the European Parliament´sSakarov´s Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2015, still remains in prison. I think it is essential that the European Parliament´s delegation visits this courageous whistle-blower to find out about his condition and to discuss other pressing human rights concerns with Saudi authorities as soon as possible."

ALDE MEP, Marietje Schaake (D66, The Netherlands), member of the delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula, added:  “The executions carried out in Bahrain are a deeply regressive step. Questions remain about whether the convicts received a fair trial. Two other persons, Mohammad Ramadan and Hussein Moosa, are still at imminent risk of execution. The death penalty must be condemned, always and everywhere. The human rights situation in Saudi Arabia remains equally worrying. A fact finding mission is needed to learn more about the details on the ground."

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