Saudi Arabia: Young men face imminent execution despite assurances on resentencing juveniles to prison terms

At least three young men are at risk of imminent execution in Saudi Arabia after an appeal court confirmed their sentences between June and October this year, Amnesty International said yesterday, Monday.

Following the grossly unfair trials, the organization called on the Saudi authorities to commute their sentences, on the International Day Against the Death Penalty.

“In February 2022, the Saudi Human Rights Commission informed Amnesty International that the country had stopped executing individuals for (crimes committed by minors),” it said, adding that it had commuted all outstanding sentences in these cases.”

Diana Samaan, Acting Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, said: “Sentencing people to death for crimes that occurred when they were under the age of 18 is a clear violation of international human rights law. The Saudi authorities have promised to end the use of the death penalty in such cases, but the harsh reality is that these young men face imminent death.”

She added, “The king should not endorse these death sentences, immediately halt all imminent executions, and order retrials that must be fully consistent with international fair trial standards, with no recourse to the death penalty.”

Dozens of Shia youths are languishing in the kingdom’s prisons due to charges, most of which take a political nature as a result of participating in protests, expressing opinions or practicing religious rites.