Among those who expressed their dissatisfaction with the move was Norbert Rottgen, chairman of the German parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.
"In light of the mass executions in Saudi Arabia, I believe that [the German FM] taking part in the Janadriyah Festival is irrelevant," Rottgen said.
Rottgen's remarks were echoed by Armin Laschet, Deputy Chairman of the German Christian Democratic Union, who also warned Frank-Walter Steinmeier against visiting Saudi Arabia.
"In light of the recent mass killings and gross human rights violations, the German Foreign Minister should refrain from marking a joyous festival in the desert together with Riyadh authorities," Laschet said.
Other politicians from Germany's ruling coalition abstained from directly criticizing Frank-Walter Steinmeier's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, but stressed the necessity of Germany reviewing its policy on Saudi Arabia, according to the Die Welt.
Also voicing his anger over the German FM's plans to attend the Janadriyah Festival was Dietmar Bartsch, executive director of the German left-wing party Die Linke, who said that "the German Foreign Minister going to Saudi Arabia in the current situation is unacceptable."
"The kingdom absolutely irresponsibly escalates what is already a tense situation in the region. The rejection of this trip would the right signal," he said.
The execution of 47 people in Saudi Arabia, among them Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, sparked a round of furious protests by Shia political and religious leaders culminating in an attack on the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran. This protest action finally resulted in the break-off of diplomatic relations between Iran and a number of countries.
