The families of two men arrested and sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia have reached out to Prince William ahead of his visit to Saudi Arabia next week.
William arrives in the country on Monday on behalf of the government to highlight diplomatic and trade links.
Yousef al-Manav and Jawad Qureiris have been put in the spotlight by various media outlets in recent years, but their families have now turned to the Prince of Wales to help.
Mr al-Manav is alleged to have attended protests between the ages of 15 and 17. Mr Qureiris was allegedly charged with attending a demonstration at the age of 13.
Prince William has received a letter from the families of Yousef al-Manav and Jawad Qureiris ahead of his trip to Saudi Arabia
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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claiming to have abolished the death penalty for childhood crimes in a Royal Decree in 2020, which still remains unpublished.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 to the prince reads: “Your Royal Highness Prince William,
“We write to you as the families of Yousef Al-Manasif and Jawad Al-Qureiris, two young men in Saudi Arabia who now face the imminent risk of execution, despite having been children at the time of the alleged events.
“Our sons were arrested and convicted of offences related to attending protests, many of which occurred before they turned eighteen. Since then, they have spent long years behind prison walls, deprived of their freedom and a normal life with their families. They grew up in prison, while their youth slowly slipped away.
“Today, we live with constant and unbearable fear. Every phone call, every piece of news, every moment of silence brings with it the possibility of loss. We fear that our sons could be executed at any moment, without warning, without our ability to protect them, or even to say goodbye. Our children have suffered enough, and our families have endured years of anguish, uncertainty, and pain alongside them.
“We are reaching out to you because you are known for your commitment to children’s rights. Our sons were children when their freedom was taken away, and they continue to pay the price for acts alleged against them as minors. We believe that children should be protected - not executed.
Prince William has been told in the letter that their families live "in constant fear" for the two young men
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“As your visit approaches, we understand that it comes as part of the commemoration of the historic relationship between our beloved country and yours. From the depths of our hearts, we hope that this visit can bring back light and life to our families.
“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.
“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.”
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The charges related to protests they attended when they were children during the spring of 2011-2012.
Mr Al-Manav was arrested in 2017 at the age of 20 for offences related to attending protests as a child, starting when he was 15 years old.
Mr Qureiris was arrested in 2020 on charges related to participation in protests, including following Facebook pages and communicating with a wanted person.
Prince William will head to Saudi Arabia on Monday
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The letter was also signed by Child Rights International Networks and Al-Qst for Human Rights.
GB News has reached out to Kensington Palace for comment.
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