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Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench) on Monday, 1 February 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 February 2021. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Thursday, 11 February 2021 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Saudi Arabia: Corporal Punishment

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of people in Saudi Arabia receiving repeated public lashings for asserting their atheism; and whether they consider that such punishments contravene the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Answer

The UK strongly supports the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), which is restricted in Saudi Arabia. Ministers and our Ambassador in Saudi Arabia regularly raise and discuss freedom of religion or belief. Whilst Saudi Arabia ended flogging as a form of corporal punishment in 2020, this change does not apply to some Hudud crimes, for which the Quran prescribes punishments.The UK will encourage further human rights reform in Saudi Arabia.

On 20 December 2020, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to FoRB by appointing Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton, as his Special Envoy for FoRB. Mrs Bruce will work with ministers, officials and others to deliver the Government's goal of seeing everyone, everywhere able to have and practise a faith, belief, or not to do so, in accordance with their conscience.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL12752
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Corporal punishment Saudi Arabia Atheism
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk