Andy Slaughter MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Human Rights, has written to Justice Secretary Michael Gove on judicial cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the Memorandum of Understanding.

In the letter sent to Michael Gove today, Andy Slaughter said:

Dear Michael,

You may be aware of my interest in the Memorandum of Understanding on Judicial Cooperation between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed on 10 September 2014 by your predecessor, Chris Grayling, and the Saudi Minister of Justice.

Thus far your department has declined to publish the Memorandum but, in response to Parliamentary Questions tabled by me in October 2015, Dominic Raab confirmed ‘initial exploratory discussions’ have taken place on judicial cooperation with Saudi Arabia and that these are ‘ongoing’ via the British Embassy in Riyadh. (WPQs 13724 and 12217 refer).

In the light of recent events, in particular the execution on 1 January of 47 Saudi and foreign nationals by beheading at various prison sites in Saudi Arabia, I hope you agree with me that it would be inappropriate at present for the UK to be seen to be cooperating with the Saudi justice system.

Serious concerns have been raised not only about the sentences and the manner in which the executions were carried out but also whether due process has been followed and whether the defendants received a fair trial.
In particular, the execution of Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr and three young Shia men whose offences appear to be taking part in political protests and demonstrations against the current government have caused dismay and outrage around the world.  

I would be grateful if you could confirm:

·        Whether discussions are still taking place between UK and Saudi officials under the terms of the Memorandum, and if so what those discussion entail?
·        Whether you think it appropriate now to suspend any cooperation on judicial matters with Saudi Arabia in the light of the recent executions?
·        Whether you will now publish the Memorandum so a better-informed discussion of this country’s relationship with Saudi Arabia on judicial matters can take place?

Your measured response to the Urgent Question I tabled on 13 October 2015, and your decision to withdraw from the prison contract with Saudi Arabia and disband the MoJ unit that negotiated it was widely praised and appreciated. It contrasted however with the Foreign Secretary’s statement to Al Arabiya News in Bahrain on 1 November that the status of British-Saudi relations was ‘business as usual’ and that he ‘would have preferred the contract with Saudi Arabia to have been entered into as a sign of good faith’.

To clarify the UK Government’s position I urge you to take the further steps I have suggested, especially given the recent actions of the Saudi justice system.  
Finally, you will also be aware that the Leader of the Opposition has requested the Prime Minister on several occasions to seek assurances from the Saudi authorities that sentence of death will not be carried out on Ali Al-Nimr, Dawood Al-Marhoon and Abdallah Al-Zaher, who were minors at the time of their alleged offences.  Although this is primarily a matter for the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, I hope that you will also make what representations you can to your opposite number in Riyadh on behalf of these three young men.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Slaughter MP
Shadow Minister for Human Rights