from Religion Media Centre
The bishops of Southwark, Chelmsford and Winchester have written to the ruler of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, urging him to call an immediate halt to the executions of more than 50 Ethiopian Christians on death row in the state.
They say the Ethiopians have been mistreated in detention, crosses they were wearing round their necks were removed and they were assaulted, the open expression of Christian belief has been discouraged or prohibited, and several have been tortured and forced to sign documents they could not read or understand.
They called for the Saudis to commute death sentences of all those convicted solely of non-lethal drug offences and to order a review of all cases, with access to legal representation and interpretation.
They pointed out that “the right to hold, practise and express one’s religious faith, including within a prison setting, is a fundamental right recognised under international law”.
They copied their letter to the Foreign Secretary Ed Milliband, asking him to intervene. A Foreign Office spokesman said: “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.”
The Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mountstephen, is the Church of England’s lead bishop for freedom of religion or belief.