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Charles set to meet new Saudi king

Written By blogger on Monday, February 9, 2015 | 10:10 PM

The Prince of Wales will formally meet Saudi Arabia's new king, Salman, later amid calls from human rights groups over humanitarian concerns.

Prince Charles has been urged to raise the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam".

The prince will also meet Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muqrin, along with senior government figures.

He has visited Jordan and Kuwait so far during his six-day Middle East tour.

Prince Charles was among a number of world leaders who travelled to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, last month to pay his respects following the death of the nation's King Abdullah, aged 90.

King Abdullah was succeeded by his 79-year-old half-brother, Salman.

Amnesty International has urged Prince Charles to raise the case of Mr Badawi during his latest visit, calling on him to "pass on a few well chosen words" to the new Saudi king.

Raif Badawi Raif Badawi was sentenced to receive 1,000 lashes and has received 50 lashes so far

Mr Badai had been sentenced to receive 1,000 lashes over 20 weeks - 50 lashes a week - and was given the first round on 9 January.

However, his subsequent floggings have been postponed.

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Analysis BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell

Prince Charles has a reputation - some might say a notoriety - for speaking up on matters of concern.

As he arrives in Saudi Arabia, he faces a more-than-usually delicate diplomatic challenge.

Will he speak up when he meets the new Saudi king, Salman, and raise the case of a Saudi citizen whose treatment has outraged human rights groups and is a matter of "serious concern" to the British government?

Charles is neither a politician nor a diplomat. But he does undertake these tours at the request of Her Majesty's Government to represent and bolster British interests.

He also has a good and long-standing relationship with the Saudi royal family.

He is respected, both as a fellow royal and, importantly, as someone with a genuine interest in the Islamic faith.

All of that gives Charles an authority in Saudi eyes, which is probably greater than that of any practising British politician.

So, just possibly, when Charles meets King Salman today, he will speak up and privately raise the plight of a man who has been locked away in a Saudi prison cell.

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'Outrageous case'

No official reason has been given, but human rights groups say Mr Badawi was reported to be physically unfit to face the penalty after receiving the first flogging.

Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK director, said Prince Charles' "diplomatic intercession" could help secure his freedom.

"We know that freedom of religion is an issue close to the prince's heart, and in Saudi Arabia he will surely want to raise the outrageous case of Raif Badawi, the blogger jailed and flogged for discussing politics and religion on his website," she said.

The Prince of Wales during a tour on board HMS Dauntless in Kuwait City The prince took part in a sunset ceremony on the warship HMS Dauntless
The Prince of Wales with Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf after arriving in Kuwait City He also met Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf during his visit to Kuwait
The Prince of Wales inspects a Guard of Honour in Kuwait City The trip marked Prince Charles seventh visit to Kuwait, coming after his last trip four years ago

During the six-day tour, Prince Charles has already held bilateral talks with Jordan's King Abdullah and met Christian refugees from Iraq at the British ambassador's residence in Amman, the Jordanian capital.

He also visited a refugee camp near the Jordanian border with war-torn Syria.

He also held talks with the Emir of Kuwait before taking part in a sunset ceremony on the warship HMS Dauntless, which is on a routine deployment in Kuwait.

The Prince of Wales is also due to visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates before returning home.


Charles set to meet new Saudi king

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