The Washington Post: Saudi authorities executed 48 Shia opponents after mock trials

A report by the US-based newspaper, The Washington Post, revealed that the Saudi authorities executed 48 Shiaindividuals between 2016 and 2019 after trials were deemedfake by human rights,and

A report by the US-based newspaper, The Washington Post, revealed that the Saudi authorities executed 48 Shiaindividuals between 2016 and 2019 after trials were deemedfake by human rights,and their families have not yet received their bodies for burial.

The newspaper stated in its report, “The Saudi regime did not publicly explain the reason for its refusal to hand over the bodies and the Saudi embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment, but human rights activists said they doubted the Saudi embassy’s statements because all the cases were from the Shia minority – which is anti-regime – fearing that public funeral ceremonies will turn into protests.”

The newspaper quoted the founder of the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, Ali Adubisi, as saying: “We have compiled a list of the names of those executed and that the failure to return the bodies is part of Saudi Arabia’s role in persecuting the society.”

For his part, Harriet McCulloch, vice-president of Reprieve, a London-based human rights group, said, “The refusal to hand over the bodies of the executed men shows Saudi Arabia’s contempt for humanity and the rule of law. They violate international and Islamic law when it suits them, and they clearly believe they can do so with impunity.” 

“Saudi Arabia is a kingdom with a strict Sunni majority, and many of the regime’s loyalists view Shias as non-Muslims, while the Shias have long complained of marginalization by the government, although Saudi officials insist they have taken steps to reduce discontent,” according to the report. 

The report stated that, “Between 2016 and 2019, Saudi Arabia executed 48 Shiamembers of the opposition, while others were killed in raids by Saudi forces. According to the European Saudi Human Rights Organization, none of their families received any of the bodies.”

The wife of the Saudi businessman Abbas Al-Hassan, who was executed by the Saudi regime last year, said, “The regime confiscated my husband’s property, including 1,000 books belonging to him, in addition to bank documents, but most importantly I want his body returned.”

“I don’t care how long this may take;I will continue sending messages to the Saudi security services until they respond to my request. I wish to bury him in a place that suits him, not as an unidentified person nor like a person who committed a heinous crime.”