'It is now extremely important that the British government reconsiders its timid 'constructive engagement' line with Saudi Arabia and begins to speak out forcefully about widescale human rights violations in the Kingdom.

'For years Amnesty International has urged the British government to change tack over Saudi Arabia. Quite simply, British officials have all too often been muted over torture in Saudi prison cells and the gross failings within its secretive justice system.

'The rights of other British nationals will suffer if the government simply sees this as a 'job done' and keeps quiet. For a start the government must look seriously at the question of supporting any claims from the men for damages from the Saudi Arabian authorities.'