On 15 September, ADHRB has delivered an oral intervention at the United Nation Human Rights Council session 51 under item 2, during the General debate. ADHRB echos the demands of the Special Procedure Offices for the King to annul the death sentences of Sadeq and Jaafar, considering the severe violation of their due process and fair trial right, and further call upon Saudi and Bahraini authorities to coordinate their return to Bahrain where they may be reunited with their families.
Mr. President,
AlSalam welcomes the presented update and further welcomes the Urgent Appeal issued by the SR on arbitrary executions, SR on promotion of human rights while countering terrorism, and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding the imminent execution of two Bahraini men, Jaafar Sultan and Sadeq Thamer, who have been sentenced to death in an unfair trial in Saudi Arabia.
Jaafar and Sadeq were warrantlessly arrested in 2015 and placed in solitary confinement for nearly 4 months while their parents sought to locate them, to no avail.
During their detention, both were subjected to physical and psychological torture, to the point where Jaafar had to be transferred to the hospital. They were threatened with reprisal against their family and further solitary confinement if they did not confess to terrorist charges against them. Sadeq and Jaafar could not meet with their lawyers and or adequately prepare for their trial.
On 6 April 2022, the Saudi Supreme Court upheld their death sentences, meaning they have exhausted all legal remedies, and their judgment has been raised to the Saudi King who can either ratify the judgment, commute it, or pardon them.
We echo the demands of the Special Procedure Offices for the King to annul the death sentences of Sadeq and Jaafar, considering the severe violation of their due process and fair trial right, and further call upon Saudi and Bahraini authorities to coordinate their return to Bahrain where they may be reunited with their families.
Thank you.
