David Cameron will personally intervene in the case of a British grandfather sentenced to a public flogging in Saudi Arabia after being caught with home-made wine.
The Prime Minister will write today to senior officials in the Saudi government to raise his concerns about the case of Karl Andree, 74, who has already spent a year in prison and now faces 350 lashes.
Mr Andree, who has had cancer three times and also suffers from asthma, was arrested in August 2014 after homemade wine was found in his car. Alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia.
His family have said that the corporal punishment would almost certainly kill him.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said today: “The Prime Minister recognises the plight of this individual and the concerns around this case.
“We have raised this case with the Saudis and will continue to do so.
“[As a government] we have raised it repeatedly in recent weeks and the Prime Minister is writing today to further raise the case.”
