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AI to Saudis: Stop Bloody Executions, Grossly Unfair Mass Trials

AI to Saudis: Stop Bloody Executions, Grossly Unfair Mass Trials
folder_openSaudi Arabia access_time6 years ago
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Local Editor

Human rights group Amnesty International called on Saudi Arabia to halt the executions of 14 individuals who were sentenced to death following a "grossly unfair mass trial" as part of the kingdom's "bloody execution spree."

AI to Saudis: Stop Bloody Executions, Grossly Unfair Mass Trials

"By confirming these sentences Saudi Arabia's authorities have displayed their ruthless commitment to the use of the death penalty as a weapon to crush dissent and neutralize political opponents," said Samah Hadid, Director of campaigns for the Middle-East at Amnesty international.

He further stated: "King Salman's signature is now all that stands between them and their execution. He must immediately quash these death sentences which are a result of sham court proceedings that brazenly flout international fair trial standards."

At least 66 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia since the start of 2017, including 26 in the past three weeks alone - more than one execution per day.

Hussein al-Rabi', Abdullah al-Tureif, Hussein al-Mosallem, Mohamed al-Naser, Mustafa al-Darwish, Fadel Labbad, Sa'id al-Sakafi, Salman al-Qureish, Mujtaba al-Suweyket, Munir al-Adam, Abdullah al-Asreeh, Ahmad al-Darwish, Abdulaziz al-Sahwi, Ahmad al-Rab'i were transferred from Dammam in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province to the capital, Riyadh on 15 July 2017 without prior notice.

AI to Saudis: Stop Bloody Executions, Grossly Unfair Mass Trials

Now that their sentences have been upheld by the Supreme Court the 14 men are at risk of execution as soon as the King ratifies their sentences. Due to the secrecy surrounding the Saudi Arabia judicial process, the families are given very little information, if any, about the current state of the case and usually not told about the scheduled execution of their relatives.

Yesterday, families of the 14 men learned that the death sentences were upheld after contacting the Specialized Criminal Court [SCC] and they fear that the executions will take place imminently. The 14 men were initially sentenced to death on 1 June 2016 by the Specialized Criminal Court [SCC] in Riyadh, following a grossly unfair mass trial.

Court documents show that the 14 men told the court they were subjected to prolonged pre-trial detention and had been tortured and otherwise ill-treated during their interrogation to extract their "confessions", however the judge failed to order investigations into their allegations. The SCC appears to have largely based its decision on these forced "confessions".

Amnesty International also learned on 23 July 2017 that the SCC court of appeal has upheld the death sentences of 15 men accused of spying for Iran and the case was transferred to the Supreme Court on 20 July 2017. The men were initially sentenced to death on 6 December 2016.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

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