Saudi Arabia sentences 14 Shias to death

Saudi Arabia has sentenced 14 people to death after convicting them of attacks on police in the Shia-populated area of Qatif in Eastern Province.

Saudi Arabia has sentenced 14 people to death after convicting them of attacks on police in the Shia-populated area of Qatif in Eastern Province.

Another nine people were given jail sentences of three to 15 years and one was acquitted, their defense lawyer told the Reuters news agency.

The defense lawyer said the 24 defendants had been held for about three years and were accused of carrying weapons and shooting at police.

Around 20 Shia Muslims and several police officers were killed during 2011-14 protests. 

Faced with a heavy-handed government crackdown, Shias in Qatif and other areas have also been targeted by ISIS attacks since 2014 in which dozens have lost their lives.