The family of Karl Andree said he had been told he faced 350 lashes in public after serving a year behind bars over the incident because of Saudi Arabia’s strict laws banning the production and consumption of alcohol.
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“There should be an independent investigation into events at Haydan Hospital and meanwhile the United Kingdom should immediately suspend all arms exports to Saudi Arabia and other members of the coalition now bombing Yemen that could be used in attacks like this”, it added.
Mr Hammond said the case had caused “concern” in Britain but it was because of the “strength, depth and breadth” of the UK’s relations with Saudi Arabia that they were able to “achieve effective results”.
Andree’s son told CNN this month that while his father may have done wrong in the eyes of Saudi officials, it shouldn’t warrant what may amount to a death sentence.
A few reports suggested Saudi officials never intended for Mr Andree to be flogged, due to his age and health, but his family questioned the delay in his release from prison. “I’ve been watching the TV all day waiting for the news”.
The foreign secretary tweeted an image of himself sitting with the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.
Last week the Saudi ambassador to London said lucrative British trade deals with Saudi Arabia could be jeopardised by that decision.
Cameron’s government has been criticized for even considering offering services to the Saudi prison system.
The move comes as Britain’s traditionally close ties with Saudi Arabia come under increasing scrutiny over its human rights record.
However he is still jailed – two months after his sentence elapsed.
But Hammond said his tour would allow him talk to “key partners” about “security issues”.
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A spokesman said: “During the Gulf visit, the Foreign Secretary will also discuss the ongoing conflict in Yemen. As usual on all visits, he will raise consular cases, including current Saudi judicial cases”.
