Facing the Death Sentence in Saudi Arabia for Alleged Crimes Committed as Minors

Since 2011, Saudi authorities have arrested more than 60 children, among them Ali al-Nimr, Abdullah al-Zaher, Dawood al-Marhoon, Ali al-Rabeh, and Amin Mohammed Aqla al-Ghamidi. It has executed some of them, including al-Rabeh and al-Ghamidi. Others, like al-Nimr, al-Zaher, and al-Marhoon, remain in custody awaiting execution or the death penalty. At least 10 young men[…]

Unprotected by Law, Children Could Face Execution in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in the world that executes and sentences people to death for crimes they allegedly committed as minors. Most recently, of the 47 people executed on 2 January 2016, four were arrested for crimes they reputedly committed as children. In addition, at least three young men face imminent[…]

Ali al-Nimr: A Childhood Denied

In 2014, a Saudi Arabian court ordered the execution of Ali al-Nimr. Despite wide-spread criticism, including from the UN, the kingdom claims it only executes the “most serious criminals.” Ali was a minor—17-years-old—when authorities arrested him in 2012 for participating in a non-violent demonstration. They kept him in pretrial detention for two years, tortured him[…]

Saudi Executions Continue at an Alarming Rate

On 1 June the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) of Saudi Arabia handed down 14 death sentences, reportedly the largest mass death sentence in the kingdom’s history. The court also issued nine prison sentences and one acquittal in the trial. All charges were in relation to an alleged attack on police forces in the predominantly Shia Eastern[…]

ADHRB submits written statement on Saudi Arabia to the Human Rights Council

On the occasion of the 31st session of the Human Rights Council, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain submitted for the official record the following written statement regarding human rights in Saudi Arabia. Please continue reading for the full text, or click here to read a PDF of the written statement. Death Sentences and[…]