Executions ‘DOUBLE in Saudi Arabia in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2018’ despite Mohammed bin Salman’s pledge to crack down on capital punishment
- 122 people executed in Saudi between January and end of June, activists say
- Six minors, three women and 58 foreign nationals were among those killed
- Rate is more than double same period last year and the highest for five years
- Mohammed bin Salman claimed in 2018 that he would cut use of death penalty
Saudi Arabia executed 122 people in the first six months of 2019 making it the bloodiest start to a year in the Arab kingdom since 2014, a new report claims.
Among the dead were six people arrested as minors, three women, and 51 facing drug charges that would be considered minor offences elsewhere in the world.
The total is more than double the same period last year – when 55 people were put to death – and undercuts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s pledge to reduce the use of the death penalty.
Saudi Arabia executed 122 people in the six months to end of June, more than double the 55 people it put to death last year and the highest total since 2014 (file)
The figures were released by activist group the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights, which said they ‘raise serious concerns about the extent to which the Saudi government will expand capital punishment this year.’
Saudi Arabia executed 41 people in the first half of 2017, 88 during the same period in 2016, and 103 for the first six months of 2015.
If the same trend were repeated in the second half of the year, 2019 would be the busiest year on record for Saudi executioners.
The group said it is aware of at least 23 pending cases for which the death penalty is possible, including at least three children.
It is not clear if those cases involve defendants who are still children, or were minors when they were arrested.
In just one day this year – April 23 – Saudi Arabia executed 37 people, mostly accused of political crimes for their part in the Arab Spring protests of 2011 and 2012.
At least one of the bodies was crucified and put on display after the execution.
Court documents obtained by CNN showed that many of those recanted earlier confessions when brought before the judge, saying they were written by guards or under torture.
Some even claimed to have evidence of abuse they suffered during years of incarceration, but all appeals were rejected.
It comes despite Mohammed bin Salman’s pledge in April 2018 to ‘minimise’ the use of the death penalty. 221 people have been killed since he made the promise
A total of 58 foreign nationals were also put to death this year, mostly accused of spreading Shia Islam which is a crime in the Sunni state.
Among the dead foreigners were 21 Pakistanis, 15 Yemenis, five from Syria and four from Egypt.
Two Jordanians, two Nigeriens, a Somalian and two from unidentified nations were also included in the figures.
The increasing death toll comes despite Bin Salman pledging in an interview with Time magazine in April 2018 to ‘minimise’ the use of capital punishment.
‘There are a few areas we can change (or lower the sentence) from execution to life imprisonment,’ he said.
‘So we are working for two years through the government and also the Saudi parliament to build new laws in that area.
‘And we believe it will take one year, maybe a little bit more, to have it finished… We will not get it 100 per cent, but to reduce it big time.’
A total of 221 people have been executed since he made that pledge.
Bin Salman’s actions continue a trend set by his father, King Salman, with 714 people put to death since he took power in 2015.
While Bin Salman was hailed as a reformer when he took the throne – attempting to lure in Western investment with promises of human rights reform – his record has been chequered, at best.
He has lifted the ban on women driving cars and reintroduced cinemas, but has also been implicated in war crimes in Yemen and blamed for the execution of US journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year.