Saudi authorities have executed three young men from the Shia-populated Qatif region over alleged charges of involvement in sabotage activities.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior claimed in a statement on Monday that the death sentences were carried out against Hassan bin Issa Al Muhanna, Haider bin Hassan Muwais and Muhammad bin Ibrahim Muwais.
According to Mirat Al Jazeera, the execution of these young men was carried out without following the standard criminal procedures.
A statement from the Saudi Ministry says the executed young Saudis “had joined a foreign-based network in order to carry out acts of terror against the kingdom.
They were found guilty of having received training in the use of firearms and making bombs.”
But the sources of the opposition in Saudi Arabia believe these executions are driven by purely political reasons as part of a crackdown to silence political dissent.
According to the opposition groups, the three had been arrested in 2013 and were behind bars for the past 10 years, being subjected to severe physical and mental torture during these years.
The eastern cities of Saudi Arabia are mainly populated by Shiites who are generally arrested and tried for political reasons.
