Briton faces death in Saudi Arabia over wine

Karl Andree, 74 years old British man, faces flogging in Saudi Arabia for brewing homemade wine. (facebook picture)

Karl Andree, has been in prison in Saudi Arabia since August 2014 after being caught with homemade wine. His one-year sentence has been completed, but he is still behind bars awaiting punishment. The 74 years old British man is awaiting his punishment of 350 lashes according to Saudi flogging law.

Alcohol, like narcotics, weapons, pork and pornography, are prohibited in Saudi Arabia, in line with the Middle Eastern nation’s Islamic rules. And when Saudi police caught Karl Andree with bottles of homemade wine in his car last year, he and his children knew that he’s going to face some consequences. The oil company executive, who has worked in Saudi Arabia for 25 years, has been held at Briman prison in Jeddah.

His son, Simon Andree, comes out for fear of his father’s health, who suffers from asthma and cancer. “My father is at the bottom of a list, he’s at the bottom of the pecking order,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today program. “I feel that the business dealings with Saudi Arabia and the UK are probably taking priority over it.”

He continues, “All I can say is that the primary responsibility of the British government is to their citizens. He’s a British citizen and I ask that the government plead for his clemency, for him to be released. He’s done his time and I just fear that these lashes are unjustified for his age and for his current health condition.”

Alcoholic drink are banned in Saudi Arabia and possessing them is considered a crime. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

His children believe that he “already did his time” and “should be released by now” acknowledging the crime of wine possession in Saudi Arabia. Flogging covers a wide array of crimes in Saudi Arabia. Spending time with the opposite sex; adultery; being gay; human rights advocacy; and being in possession of alcohol; are all punished by flogging. The sentence usually varies. Often hundreds, up to a couple of thousand lashes, imposed in weekly sessions of about 50 until the full sentence has been served.

The Andree family got support from British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose office signaled that he will reach out to Saudi officials.

“Given the ongoing concerns and the fact we would like to see more progress, the PM is writing to the Saudis to further raise the case on the back of the action that has already been taken by the Foreign Office,” a spokesperson for Cameron’s office said.

The Foreign Office has said it is actively seeking the release of Andree. A spokesman said: “Our embassy staff is continuing to assist Mr. Andree, including regular visits to check on his welfare, and frequent contact with his lawyer and family.”