Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the United Nations special rapporteurs on 26 January regarding the cases of Jaafar Sultan and Sadiq Majeed Thamer who are on death row in Saudi Arabia, what representations they will make to the government of Saudi Arabia in support of the quashing of their death sentences.

The United Kingdom strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. The Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Ahmad raised UK concerns about the death penalty, including individual cases, with the Saudi Justice Minister on 25 January. The Prime Minister also raised UK concerns about ongoing human rights issues during his visit to the Kingdom on 16 March. Ministers and senior officials will continue to raise UK concerns about the death penalty with the Saudi authorities.