Three bishops have urged the new Foreign Secretary to intervene on behalf of persecuted Christians on Saudi Arabia’s death row.
The bishops of Chelmsford, Southwark and Winchester are calling on Ed Miliband to challenge the Saudi Arabian leader, as over 50 Ethiopian Christians are being held in Saudi prison, awaiting death sentences on allegedly trumped-up charges.
The bishops have also written directly to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Some of the Christians have been found guilty of drug smuggling, which the bishops claim is inaccurate. Whilst fleeing persecution in Ethiopia, the bishops allege that the believers are the victims of people traffickers, who intercepted the believers, who were fleeing persecution back in Ethiopia. Smugglers allegedly beat the Christians, and coerced them into carrying cannabis over the Arab border against their will.
“We are aware of accounts from several of these men that during transfers to court hearings, Saudi police officers discovered the crosses they were wearing around their necks, forcibly removed them and physically assaulted them,” the bishops’ letter states.
“The open expression of Christian belief has reportedly been discouraged or prohibited within the prison, and prisoners have been expected not to display Christian religious symbols or make reference to their faith in court. This treatment is deeply troubling.
“The right to hold, practise and express one’s religious faith, including within a prison setting, is a fundamental right recognised under international law," the bishops emphasised. "We urge Your Royal Highness to ensure that it is upheld.”
The Telegraph reports that five men have already been put to death, despite the Saudi's government's assertion that their sentences would be reviewed. In some cases, their families were not informed of the executions, with other prisoners’ passing on the news.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances.
“Saudi Arabia is well aware of the UK’s opposition to the death penalty. We raise our concerns about the penalty with the Saudi authorities using a range of diplomatic channels.”