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Finland summoned the Interim Chargé d'Affaires of Saudi Arabia to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Publication date 20.1.2015 10.34
Press release 19/2015

Assem Alsabban, Interim Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia to Finland, was summoned to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 19 January 2015. He was received by Jarno Syrjälä, Director General of the Department for Africa and the Middle East. The reason was the flogging sentence of Saudi Arabian activist Raif Badawi.

Finland condemns the flogging sentence received by Badawi as a serious human rights offence and stresses that it is contrary to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Corporal punishment or imprisonment as a result of the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression cannot be accepted. Finland and the EU will continue to monitor the situation.

Additional information: Director General Jarno Syrjälä, Department for Africa and the Middle East, tel. +358 295 351 891 or Director Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen, Unit for the Middle East and North Africa, tel. +358 295 351 851. 

 
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