Report: Saudis say Shia teenager will not be executed

A young man from Saudi Arabia’s minority Shia Muslim community who was arrested at the age of 13 will not be executed and could be released by 2022, a Saudi official told Reuters news agency

A young man from Saudi Arabia’s minority Shia Muslim community who was arrested at the age of 13 will not be executed and could be released by 2022, a Saudi official told Reuters news agency after reports of his pending execution.

Murtaja Qureiris, who was detained in September 2014, received an initial 12-year prison sentence with time served since his arrest and four years suspended for his young age, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The sentence is subject to appeal.

“He will not be executed,” the official added.

The Saudi official said Murtaja Qureiris reportedly faced execution for offences including participating in protests when he was 10 years old.