Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the execution of seven young Saudi citizens convicted for armed robbery

EU News 131/2013

Brussels, 13 March 2013

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today:

I am appalled by the executions today in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of seven young Saudi citizens convicted for armed robbery. The EU had recently made several urgent appeals to the Saudi authorities at various levels calling for the sentences to be commuted.

With regard to this particular case, taking into account the nature of the crime and the age of the perpetrators, I sincerely regret that the opportunity was lost for the Saudi authorities to exercise their powers to spare them from the death penalty.

The EU opposes the use of capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances and calls for a global moratorium as a first step towards its universal abolition.

Source: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/136085.pdf

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