Saudi Arabia: UK prison deal scuppered

The UK government on 13 October pulled out of a contract to provide training for the Saudi penal system. Downing Street said “the government has decided that it won’t be proceeding” with the £5.9m ($9m) bid because of changes in the provision of such services by the UK Ministry of Justice. But its timing was linked to an upsurge in public concern over human rights, including the case of 74-year-old Karl Andree, who has not been released following a 12-month sentence and faces 360 lashes for trafficking homemade alcohol.