14 Saudis at ‘imminent risk’ of execution

Fourteen Saudi Arabians face “imminent” execution after a “grossly unfair mass trial” in which they were convicted of rioting, theft and rebellion, Amnesty International warned yesterday, reports AFP from Dubai.

Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s highest execution rates. The ultraconservative kingdom has executed 66 people this year alone, according to the London-based rights group.

The country’s supreme court upheld the death penalty for the 14 men, all Saudi citizens, for charges including rioting, theft and armed robbery and “armed rebellion against the ruler”, Amnesty said.

“King Salman’s signature is now all that stands between them and their execution,” said Samah Hadid, Amnesty’s director of Middle East campaigns.

Hadid described the supreme court’s decision as “a result of sham court proceedings that brazenly flout international fair trial standards” and that aimed to “crush dissent and neutralise political opponents”.

 

14 Saudis at imminent risk of execution

Fourteen Saudi Arabians face imminent execution after a grossly unfair mass trial in which they were convicted of rioting, theft and rebellion, Amnesty International warned yesterday, reports AFP from Dubai. Saudi Arabia has one of the worlds highest execution rates. The ultraconservative kingdom has executed 66 people this year alone, according to the London-based rights group. The countrys supreme court upheld the death penalty for the 14 men, all Saudi citizens, for charges including rioting, theft and armed robbery and armed rebellion against the ruler, Amnesty said. King Salmans signature is now all that stands between them and their execution, said Samah Hadid, Amnestys director of Middle East campaigns. Hadid described the supreme courts decision as a result of sham court proceedings that brazenly flout international fair trial standards and that aimed to crush dissent and neutralise political opponents.