The British government has been forced to face up to public scrutiny over its relationship with the oil rich nation after the emotional case of a 74-year-old British cancer victim facing 350 lashes in Saudi Arabia. And it seems domestic issues are appearing to change international relations.
UK #Saudi prison deal dropped — linked to Karl Andree or did Michael Gove win the argument? http://t.co/sEy4zATU32 pic.twitter.com/xM0fHnHtGo
— Chris Doyle (@Doylech) October 13, 2015
Britain's Foreign Office has received confirmation that 74-year-old Karl Andree will not receive a public flogging for drinking alcohol. It follows a high profile campaign by his family and the British media, who have called on David Cameron three times, to step in and save the man from the lashes, fearing he would not survive the floggings.
— Reprieve (@Reprieve) October 13, 2015
UK drops lucrative contract with Saudi prison system after protests. Will UK also stop voting Saudis onto @UN_HRC? https://t.co/eoY1g7Uc0W
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) October 13, 2015
Yet in the wings of the emotional and public row over the British pensioner sentenced to 350 lashes was a conflict within David Cameron's cabinet over a controversial prison deal with Saudi Arabia. Justice Secretary Michael Gove, who was at loggerheads with Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, wanted to pull out of the deal because he said the government should not prop up a regime which uses beheading, stoning, crucifixion and lashing to punish its citizens. Yet according to Philip Hammond, Mr Gove was naïve in his approach.
The Prime Minister's official spokeswoman has since confirmed that the UK has now decided to withdraw from the controversial US$9 million prisons deal with the Saudi justice system saying it reflected the government's decision to focus on domestic priorities. However, the government's wider interests with the Saudi Arabian government are often kept secret.
