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Silent Mode On: UK Cameron at Fault for Not Condemning Saudi Executions

© REUTERS / Neil HallProtesters hold placards as they demonstrate against the execution of prominent Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London, Britain January 2, 2016
Protesters hold placards as they demonstrate against the execution of prominent Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London, Britain January 2, 2016 - Sputnik International
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Prominent world leaders have expressed concern over Saudi Arabia’s execution of 47 people accused of terrorism, with the notable exception of UK Prime Minister David Cameron, prompting global condemnation of his “utterly shameful” behavior.

In this Jan. 24, 2015 file photo, Saudi Arabia's King Salman attends a ceremony at the Diwan royal palace in Riyadh. - Sputnik International
Cameron Scrambles to Salvage UK-Saudi Relations Amid Human Rights Fallout
Reprieve, an international human rights advocacy group, said the UK "must not turn a blind eye to such atrocities and must urgently appeal to the kingdom to change course." Leading human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said, in an interview to Sky News, that the UK Government's stance on Saudi Arabia was "completely immoral."

The International community has strongly criticized the kingdom for the executions of 47 alleged terrorists, including a prominent Shia cleric. The killings have increased tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Reprieve representative Maya Foa stated, "The Saudi government is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom, executing at least four of them today. There are now real concerns that those protesters sentenced to death as children could be next in line to face the swordsman's blade."

Tatchell criticized the UK government attitude toward the executions, stating it is "completely immoral" that David Cameron has maintained silence, adding that it is "utterly shameful that David Cameron had not yet publicly condemned the kingdom's actions.

"Saudi Arabia and Isis are two sides of the same coin. They are motivated by the same extremist ideology, they use the same barbaric methods like beheading" he said, "[But] in British government policy we are against Isis but we are allied with Saudi Arabia."

The executions were carried out as a result of a rumored feud between the Saudi King and his brothers, posing a risk to the dynasty, The Independent cited regional sources as saying.

At noon on Sunday, about fifty demonstrators gathered outside the Saudi embassy in London to protest the UK's silence on the atrocities, shouting: "David Cameron stop supporting terrorists," and, "Saudi, ISIS are the same, only difference is the name."

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