The International community has strongly criticized the kingdom for the executions of 47 alleged terrorists, including a prominent Shia cleric. The killings have increased tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Reprieve representative Maya Foa stated, "The Saudi government is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom, executing at least four of them today. There are now real concerns that those protesters sentenced to death as children could be next in line to face the swordsman's blade."
Tatchell criticized the UK government attitude toward the executions, stating it is "completely immoral" that David Cameron has maintained silence, adding that it is "utterly shameful that David Cameron had not yet publicly condemned the kingdom's actions.
"Saudi Arabia and Isis are two sides of the same coin. They are motivated by the same extremist ideology, they use the same barbaric methods like beheading" he said, "[But] in British government policy we are against Isis but we are allied with Saudi Arabia."
The executions were carried out as a result of a rumored feud between the Saudi King and his brothers, posing a risk to the dynasty, The Independent cited regional sources as saying.
Protest at #SaudiEmbassyLondon chants "David Cameron stop supporting terrorist" pic.twitter.com/QCc7BnrS0C
— Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei (@SAlwadaei) January 3, 2016
At noon on Sunday, about fifty demonstrators gathered outside the Saudi embassy in London to protest the UK's silence on the atrocities, shouting: "David Cameron stop supporting terrorists," and, "Saudi, ISIS are the same, only difference is the name."
Protest at #SaudiEmbassyLondon against #UK silence on the execution of #ShiekhNimr & 46 people pic.twitter.com/oETBTQzQFU
— Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei (@SAlwadaei) January 3, 2016
