The European Parliament called on Saudi Arabia to respect the human rights of political opponents, after its largest bloc called for the immediate disclosure of the fate of the former crown prince, Muhammad bin Nayef, and his protection from killing.
The head of the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Juan Fernando Lopez, said that the European Union will exert all its influence in order to deliver this message to the Saudi authorities, specifically Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Lopez said that there are fundamental values for the European Union such as the promotion of human rights and gender equality, which are guaranteed by the United Nations charters, which are binding for all member states in the international community.
"As a key international partner, we must make sure that the European Union harnesses all its capabilities and weight in the international community to pressure our partners - including Saudi Arabia - to respect human rights," he added.
He continued, "We will exert all the influence we have to convey a message through the highest bodies in the European Union to the Saudi authorities, especially the Crown Prince, in order to respect the human rights of political opponents."
Earlier, the European People's Party - the largest bloc in the European Parliament - demanded the immediate disclosure of the fate of the former Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, and his protection from killing by Muhammad bin Salman.
The bloc added in a statement that there are indications indicating the deterioration of the health condition of Prince Muhammad bin Nayef in his prison in Saudi Arabia, calling on Mohammed bin Salman to stop eliminating his political opponents, as she put it.
The statement by the largest bloc in the European Parliament also described the arrest of Prince Muhammad bin Nayef as a matter of concern to European legislators.