Saudi Arabia has seen a significant increase in executions in the last six weeks, with at least 27 people executed since the beginning of the year.
The Saudi Arabian authorities must halt the use of the death penalty, Amnesty International said today, following a significant increase in executions in the country in the last 6 weeks.
At least 27 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia in 2011, the same as the total number of people executed in the whole of 2010. Fifteen people were executed in May alone.
“The Saudi Arabian authorities must halt this disturbing pattern, which puts the country at odds with the worldwide trend against the death penalty,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Amnesty International is aware of over 100 prisoners, many of whom are foreign nationals, currently on death row. The Saudi authorities must immediately stop executions and commute all death sentences, with a view to abolishing the death penalty completely,” he added.
In April 2011 their sentences were said to have been ratified by the King and it is feared that they could be executed at any time, although no date is known to have been set.
They did not have access to a lawyer during their pre-trial investigation or their trial. Furthermore, it appears that Sa’ud Jaber Shahbah al-Ja’id confessed to the murder under duress as the authorities reportedly arrested his elderly father in order to place pressure on him. “Amnesty International is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances, but it is particularly appalling that Muhammad and Sa’ud al-Ja’id were sentenced to death after a trial in which they received no legal assistance,” said Philip Luther.
“However strongly the Saudi Arabian authorities support the death penalty, they must at least recognize that no one should be executed after such problematic legal proceedings and commute their death sentences."
5 of those executed this year are foreign nationals. Amnesty International has previously documented the disproportionately high number of executions of foreign nationals from developing countries.
At least 158 people, including 76 foreign nationals, were executed by the Saudi Arabian authorities in 2007. In 2008 some 102 people, including almost 40 foreign nationals, were executed.
In 2009, at least 69 people are known to have been executed, including 19 foreign nationals and in 2010, at least 27 people were executed including 6 foreign nationals.
Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of offences. Defendants are rarely allowed formal representation by a lawyer, and in many cases are not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them. They may be convicted solely on the basis of confessions obtained under duress or deception.
Source: Canada Views, June 10, 2011
Saudi Arabia must stop use of death penalty - Amnesty
Saudi Arabia must stop the use of the death penalty following a "significant increase" in executions in the kingdom in the last 6 weeks, Amnesty International said Friday.
At least 27 people have been executed in the top oil exporter in 2011, equalling the total number of people executed in 2010 while 15 were executed in May alone, the rights group said in a statement.
Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery, homosexuality and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under the kingdom's strict interpretation of sharia law.
"The Saudi authorities must immediately stop executions and commute all death sentences, with a view to abolishing the death penalty completely," said Philip Luther, the group's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Amnesty is aware of over 100 prisoners, many of whom are foreign nationals currently on death row, he added.
A spokesman at the Ministry of Interior was not immediately available to comment.
King Abdullah ratified their sentences in April 2011 and it is feared that they could be executed at any time, the report said.
The 2 did not have access to a lawyer during their pre-trial investigation or their trial while Sa'ud confessed to the murder under duress as the authorities arrested his father in order to put pressure on him, the report added.
5 of those executed this year are foreign nationals, Amnesty said.
In 2010 at least 27 were executed including 6 foreign nationals, down from 2009 when 69 including 19 foreign nationals were executed.
Some 102 people including almost 40 foreign nationals were executed in 2008 while in 2007 at least 158 people, including 76 foreign nationals were executed, Amnesty said.
Source: Amnesty International, June 10, 2011
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