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Eight human rights organisations have collectively articulated their shock and disgust at the decision taken by the Saudi authorities to arbitrarily execute prominent Saudi religious scholar, Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, which took place on 2/01/2016. The organisations condemned to the highest degree the execution of Sheikh al-Nimr, along with the execution other Saudi prisoners of conscience.
The organisations in this statement specified:
“The implementation of the death penalty on al-Nimr and other activists was based on discriminatory ideals. Many of the decisions came against the marginalised minority Shia Saudi population. Saudi authorities disregarded all international pressures and demands to reconsider this decision, which has evidently been used as a suppressive political tool. It is a blatant violation against Articles 6 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and complete disregard to Articles 4 and 5 of the Safeguards Guaranteeing the Protection of the Rights of Those Facing the Death Penalty.”
“It must be noted that Sheikh al-Nimr was a vocal but peaceful advocate of political change, and was of the opinion that this must be done through dialogue. There are no instances where he urged for political violence. The essential right to expression of opinion is curtailed in Saudi, where the authorities indefinitely detain and flog citizens for their opinions, without trials.”
“This latest decision represents a further deterioration in the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, and further supports the current environment that helps religious hate speech against minorities flourish.”
Saudi Arabia is notoriously known for having one of the highest executions per million in the world, with approximately 79 executions in 2013, atleast 157 executions in 2015, and already 47 executions in 2016. The death penalty in Saudi Arabia is usually implemented by the use of a sword, stoning, or crucifixion, and many times done in public.
The signatory human rights organisations in this statement urge the international community to come together and confront Saudi Arabia regarding this criminal decision. Further, urge international bodies concerned with human rights to condemn this decision and work to seek justice against the perpetrators of the decision compliant to international standards of fairness.
Signatory organisations of this statement are as follows:
Bahrain Forum for Human Rights
SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights
Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture
International Council Supporting Fair Trial and Human Rights
Aman Network for Rehabilitation and Dedefense of Human Rights
Miezan Association
For Human Rights Development
European-Bahraini Organization for Human Rights
Justice for Human Rights Organization