Prince William has been urged to help two Saudi Arabian men who are at risk of execution in the Kingdom when he attends a diplomatic trip next week.
A letter has been sent to the prince in relation to Yousef al-Manav and Jawad Qureiris, who both allegedly committed crimes under the age of 18 and appear to risk execution.
Human rights organisation Reprieve has claimed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has resumed executions of child defendants, despite authorities claiming to have abolished the death penalty for childhood crimes in a Royal Decree in 2020, which still remains unpublished.
The letter from a coalition of human rights and children’s rights organisations reads: “Through both the Royal Foundation and the Heads Together campaign, you and the Princess of Wales have been leading figures advocating for children's rights and have achieved tremendous successes in helping young people achieve their dreams.
Prince William has been sent a letter by a coalition of human rights ahead of his trip to Saudi Arabia
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“Youssef and Jawad have dreams too.
“Before his arrest, Youssef loved art and riding horses and dreamed of one day opening his own shop as a car mechanic. Jawad had a passion for raising birds and took great care of them.
“He did well at school and completed his secondary education. Their dreams will die with them – unless someone intervenes to stop their executions. Will you speak up for them?
“As a long-standing advocate for children, we urge you to use your influence with Mohammed bin Salman to help save Youssef and Jawad.
“Raising this diplomatically with the Crown Prince, asking that that they are allowed to go home to their families, could be all it takes.”
Reprieve claims that under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the execution rate has greatly increased from around 71 people a year prior to 2015, to now more than 400.
Appeals have been made to Prince William to speak about the two young men when he is in Saudi Arabia
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They argue that most executions are for non-violent crimes.
A letter has also been sent to Prince William from both of the young men’s families.
In the letter, they said: “Our sons have already suffered enough, and all we ask is that you help to protect their lives, allowing us to hold them, without the constant fear of losing them at any moment. We ask for nothing more than their right to live.
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“We respectfully urge you to raise the names of Yousef Al-Manasif and Jawad Al-Qureiris, and to call for their protection and for a halt to any execution plans against them.”
Jeed Basyouni, head of Middle East and North Africa death penalty projects at Reprieve, told the Mail: “Mohammed bin Salman decides who lives and dies in Saudi Arabia and could stop these executions and free Jawad and Youssef with a click of his fingers.
“Prince William has a unique opportunity to ask the Crown Prince to do this personally.
The families of two young men have also sent a letter to the prince
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“British diplomacy has made the difference in cases like this before, when child defendants Ali al-Nimr, Abdullah al-Zaher and Dawood al-Marhoun were spared execution and eventually released following representations from the UK Government.”
GB News has reached out to Kensington Palace for comment
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