Children of British pensioner sentenced to 350 lashes in Saudi Arabia call on PM
The children of a British man have called on David Cameron to intervene to save their father from being subjected to 350 lashes in Saudi Arabia. Karl Andree, 74, faces being publicly flogged as part of a punishment imposed after bottles of homemade wine were reportedly found last year in his car by Saudi police enforcing strict laws prohibiting alcohol.
The family of the oil executive, who is being held at Jeddah’s Briman prison, say he is already weak as a result of cancer and fear that the flogging will kill him. They said in a statement reported by the Sun: “Our father has given 25 years of his working life to Saudi Arabia, and this is how he is treated. Until his arrest, he has always been happy working there and felt safe.
“He is 74 years of age, has had cancer three times and his wife is dying in a home in the UK. He now needs medical care for his cancer and asthma, and there is no doubt in our mind that 350 lashes will kill him. We implore David Cameron to personally intervene and help get our father home. The Saudi government will only listen to him.”
The Foreign Office said: “Our embassy staff are continuing to assist Mr Andree, including regular visits to check on his welfare, and frequent contact with his lawyer and family. Ministers and senior officials have raised Mr Andree’s case with the Saudi government and we are actively seeking his release as soon as possible.”
Andree’s three children, Hugh, 46, Kirsten, 45, and Simon, 33, are reported to have been lobbying discreetly for their father for more than a month but have now decided to go public.
The campaign by the family comes at a time when Britain’s diplomatic relationship with Saudi Arabia is under new scrutiny. The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, last month used his keynote speech at his party’s annual conference to call on the prime minister to secure the release of a Saudi protestor, Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, who has been condemned to execution. Al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 for reportedly being involved in Arab spring protests in Qatif, in the country’s eastern province.
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I generally try to keep my nose out of the business of these backwards-assed countries' politics, but sometimes, it just seems like they need to be nuked for their own good.
Yeah, and getting nuked might help to keep the genetic pool from getting even further contaminated with idiot genes.
Feel bad for the family..can't imagine how hard this is for all of them.
WikiLeaks cables: Saudi princes throw parties boasting drink, drugs and sex
"In what may prove a particularly incendiary cable, US diplomats describe a world of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll behind the official pieties of Saudi Arabian royalty."
...
Truly sorry to read the current state of affairs in Mr. Andree's life and the angst his family is going through.
Like every detainee/arrestee in foreign countries (devoid of democracy), I often wonder where does their personal responsibility enter into the conversation. This man wasn't kidnapped in the UK and brought to Saudi Arabia, he went on his own free will and broke the law.
Globalization of business, travel and the like do not equate to globalization of freedom or due process.
When your not in Kansas anymore, the fairy godmother isn't incumbent to appear.
It's not so much that the country has idiotic laws and that visitors aren't exempt from following them, it's the hideous and obscene punishment they receive when those idiotic laws are broken. Due to this man's health conditions, this punishment will likely kill him. Even if he were healthy, however, the punishment is no less barbaric. These subhumans get some kind of charge out of inflicting excruciating pain and permanent disfigurement on anyone who isn't part of the ruling class.
These subhumans get some kind of charge out of inflicting excruciating pain...
Unfortunately there are many countries who've remained in what we'd view as the dark ages. Probably accounts for the hatred of western civilizations as those in power wish to remain empowered to lord over their people.
"he went on his own free will and broke the law."
A key point not highlighted in the story
I think the punishment is barbaric, but he was certainly aware of the risks when he broke the law.
Great article!
I'm glad they decided to "go public". This is inhumane, especially for an older man.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
For the past 9 years I have lived in a country that does not have the same system of government or laws as my country of citizenship, Canada, and by not thumbing my nose at the laws and customs here I have been living in peace and without interference. That's a lesson too late for the learning for some.
Is there not some way to stop those stupid smileys from deposing words with their images? I started to do it and the power went off momentarily in my apartment, and by the time I got back here my 15 minutes were up. I had written the word "peace". I guess from now on when that happens I will have to do this: p-e-a-c-e