Prince Charles urged to speak out over Saudi Arabia human rights abuses
The heir to the throne was urged to press the Gulf state's new monarch over the treatment of blogger Raif Badawi, who faces a decade behind bars and 1,000 lashes for discussing domestic politics on his website.
World leaders have condemned the barbaric punishment of the free speech champion, who was convicted of insulting Islam and sentenced to receive 50 lashes every Friday for 20 weeks.
It will be the Prince's second visit to the controversial Arab state in as many weeks, coming just 10 days after the death of the nation's 90-year-old monarch Abdullah.
Charles was amongst dozens of world leaders and dignitaries criticised for travelling to Riyadh following the death of the king, who ruled a country marked by abuses of free speech and women's rights and has been succeeded by his ageing brother Salman.
Leading human rights charity Amnesty International UK said the Prince should also use his influence to highlight the plight of workers involved in building projects for the 2022 football World Cup in Qatar.
There have been allegations that vulnerable migrants - many from the poorest parts of India and Nepal - are being enslaved and forced to work in horrendous conditions as the oil-rich state gears up for the world's biggest sporting event.
The charity's director, Kate Allen, said: "We don't expect Prince Charles to give up the red carpets and state banquets and become a human rights campaigner, but as a man who knows the Middle East well we hope that he will use this visit to pass on a few well-chosen words to his royal hosts.
"We know that freedom of religion is an issue close to the Prince's heart, and in Saudi Arabia he will surely want to raise the outrageous case of Raif Badawi, the blogger jailed and flogged for discussing politics and religion on his website.
"We still need the UK government to do more on Raif's case, but Charles' diplomatic intercession could help secure this man's freedom."
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