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OPINION: KARL ANDREE FACES 360 LASHES

Writer's picture: Evelyn KeryovaEvelyn Keryova

When I woke up today I was not sure what they are talking about on BBC London radio. On my way to the university, I do not usually listen to the radio but today I thought a little change will not hurt anyone and I turned it on.

“He was living so many years in Saudi Arabia that he should not be a British citizen anymore.”

The presenter asked him: “But why do you think this? He still is a British citizen.” “He did not pay taxes, he did not contribute. He should not be a British citizen anymore.”

And the call stopped. London news was the next programme.

They got back to the topic.

I was not sure what they are talking about. Obviously I turned it on very late so I was not aware of what is happening there. Is the topic about someone who is coming back to Britain and should not? Is it about the celebrity? What are they talking about?

And then the presenter repeated it. “He is 74 years old. He suffered from asthma and cancer three times. He was sentenced for 14 months and faces 360 lashes because they found homemade wine in his car and it is prohibited to drink alcohol in Saudi Arabia. He is guilty and he knows he made a mistake. But 360 lashes can kill him. Should we make something about it? Should David Cameron make something about it? Should Prince Charles who has great contacts in Saudi Arabia do something about it?”

He broke the law, he knew what he was doing but why should he die? I know that we cannot force Saudi Arabia to change the law – it is their way of punishment, for those people who are breaking the law, but do we really need to see this happening? I probably did not mention, but this punishmet will be viewed by public. So, my question is: Do we really need to see this?

A pensioner (his name is Karl Andree) who faces 360 lashes over Saudi wine will probably die. His family is saying that this will definitely kill him. “He is an old man, he is 74, he has survived three types of cancer with very strong cancer treatments, he is asthmatic, he has gout – he is not very well,” his daughter said for one of the BBC´s articles.

The main reason why it is all around the news right now is that the public want to force government or someone strong, influential and powerful to make a phone call or travel to Saudi Arabia in order to help this man. It hits the public. It is the story which has to be published because without the help of media and publicity, the man will die.

Is it a good punishment? Should a man die because he had an alcohol in his car?

In Slovakia, people who killed people on the road are not punished, many of them not even sentenced. We have to understand the law in Saudi Arabia and people living there, like Karl Andree, should know all about the laws and consequences.

If David Cameron will help this man, he would probably never drink an alcohol again. According to his family, he loves Saudi Arabia but he would not be able to live in that country anymore.

Well, the wrong doings have to have consequences. Now, Mr Cameron, it is all about you and your government. Help this man and his family. He is British citizen and you should help your people when they are in need.

People sometimes need the help of government. And now it is that situation…

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