Saudi authorities execute political prisoner from Qatif based on fabricated charges
Saudi authorities have announced the execution of the political prisoner “Mohammed Asaad Al-Shakhouri” from the city of Al-Awamiyah in Qatif Province. The execution was carried out on Sunday, June 30, 2024, making Al-Shakhouri the sixth political prisoner from the Qatif area to be executed this year.
Media sources reported that Mohammed Asaad Al-Shakhouri faced fabricated charges of committing a terrorist crime, including training on the use of weapons, manufacturing explosive materials, harboring wanted terrorist elements, and funding terrorist groups to kill citizens.
According to human rights observers, these accusations are part of a repressive campaign targeting political activists and reform advocates in the Saudi kingdom.
Al-Shakhouri was arrested eight years ago for participating in the peaceful movement that took place in the country. He was detained in the “Mabahith” political prison, and during his detention, human rights reports indicated that he was subjected to severe torture and continuous mistreatment until he was executed in a secret place.
Al-Shakhouri’s execution has shocked human rights circles, especially since his name was not listed among those threatened with execution by human rights organizations. Many organizations, including the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights, have expressed deep concern over the escalating policy of repression and executions in the kingdom.
The execution of Mohammed Asaad Al-Shakhouri comes amid a frightening increase in executions in Saudi Arabia, contradicting government statements about reducing the use of the death penalty,” the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights said in previous statements.
International human rights organizations and the families of detainees have called on the international community to pressure Saudi authorities to halt executions and ensure fair and transparent trials for political detainees. These organizations have also demanded independent investigations into detention conditions and the treatment of detainees.
