At least seven young men, all of whom were sentenced to death for so-called crimes committed when they were between the ages of 14-17 and who are members of the Shi’a religious minority, are at imminent risk of execution in Saudi Arabia, the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights announced today.
In April 2020, the government said that it was suspending all death sentences against individuals who were under the age of 18. But, as the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights points out, the decree provided a “loophole through which prosecutors may continue to seek the death penalty against children, as it allows for the death penalty to be applied to anyone tried under the government’s anti-terrorism regime.” That loophole “is widely used to oppress human rights defenders, opponents, demonstrators, and journalists.”
Two of the seven who are most at risk include Yousif Al-Manasif and Ali Al-Mubaiouq, whose death sentences were upheld by the Specialized Criminal Court of Appeal and are now under consideration at the Supreme Court.
Thirty human rights groups worldwide have signed a statement declaring that these executions “violate international human rights standards and principles related to juvenile justice.” It’s hoped that international outrage could save the lives of these young men.
Since the beginning of this year, Saudi Arabia has executed 47 individuals.