Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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492. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations to the ambassador for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Ireland regarding the case of a person (details supplied) who has been sentenced to ten years' imprisonment and 1,000 lashes for criticism of the authorities in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2225/15]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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507. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the public flogging of rights activist, Raif Badawi, in Saudi Arabia for running a website advocating freedom of speech and that Walid Abu al-Khaira, a prominent Saudi Arabian human rights lawyer, has been given an additional five years in jail on charges that included breaking his allegiance to King Abdullah and showing disrespect for the authorities; and if he will raise these cases with the Saudi Arabian authorities. [2850/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 507 together.

The conviction in the case of Raif Badawi and the nature of the penalty imposed on him is clearly a cause of concern. There is also concern about the imprisonment of the prominent human rights activist Waleed Abu al-Khair, which may be connected with that of Mr. Badawi.

The case of Mr Badawi, and our concerns at his sentence have been raised by the European Union on behalf of its Member States, including Ireland, with the Saudi authorities, both when he was convicted and again now that punishment has commenced. In addition, the spokesperson of EU High Representative Mogherini issued a statement on the case of Mr Badawi on 9 January. This called on the Saudi authorities to suspend the flogging of Mr Badawi, a call which was echoed on 15 January by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. I hope that the Saudi Authorities will answer the High Commissioner’s call for Mr Badawi to be pardoned and for this harsh form of punishment to be urgently reviewed.

In the meantime, I welcome the fact that the second session of punishment for Mr Badawi has been postponed. I also welcome reports that his case has been referred to the Supreme Court by King Abdullah. I hope this will presage a wider rethink of the case by the Saudi authorities.

In July 2014, the human rights activist Walid Abu al-Khair was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with five years of his sentence suspended. Last week, the Court of Appeal reportedly reinstated this additional five years of imprisonment. The imprisonment of persons for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and association is a matter of concern wherever it occurs. Concerns about this case have also been directly raised with the Saudi authorities by the EU on behalf of its member states.

Ireland normally raises human rights issues, including specific cases, in conjunction with our EU partners in Saudi Arabia, as we do in many other locations. We carry more weight speaking as a unified group of 28countries.

Ireland has always been at the forefront internationally in raising human rights issues. At the UN Human Rights Council Ireland has addressed human rights recommendations to Saudi Arabia during its review under the UN Universal Periodic Review procedure which took place in October 2013. Ireland also works to promote an active dialogue on the part of the EU with all major partners, including the Gulf countries, on matters pertaining to human rights. The Government’s review of foreign policy, The Global Island, which was launched last week, underlines the Government’s continuing commitment to promoting human rights.