Reprieve - Second Saudi juvenile to face ‘beheading’ for protests

 

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3263398/Second-Saudi-teenager-set-beheaded-protesting-following-international-furore-crucifixion-17-year-old.html

A second juvenile is facing beheading in Saudi Arabia after a court upheld his conviction for a role in protests, days after the case of juvenile Ali al-Nimr sparked a global outcry.

Dawoud al-Marhoon was 17 when he was arrested without a warrant by Saudi security forces in May 2012, at the height of protests in the country’s Eastern Province. He was tortured and made to sign a ‘confession’ that was later relied on to convict him. He has been held in solitary confinement, and has been barred from speaking to his lawyer. Last week, the Specialized Criminal Court – the same body that recently upheld a sentence of ‘crucifixion’ for Ali al-Nimr – upheld Dawoud’s conviction, and sentenced him to death by beheading.

From the MailOnline,

Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said: 'Ali al-Nimr's case has rightly prompted revulsion among the international community.

'It is therefore horrifying that the Saudi government is pushing ahead with plans to exact a similarly brutal sentence on another juvenile, Dawoud al-Marhoon.

'It's also deeply disappointing to see the U.S. and the UK – who are among the Saudis' closest allies – failing to intervene strongly to stop these executions from going ahead. 

'It is grossly hypocritical for David Cameron to say he opposes these sentences, while his government is bidding to support the very prisons service who will be responsible for carrying them out. 

'The British government must urgently change its priorities – ministers must cancel the bid and call unequivocally on Saudi Arabia to halt the executions.' 

Yesterday, it emerged that Saudi Arabia had also threatened to execute those who 'spread rumours' about the government on social media.

It is the first time the Gulf nation has created a rule to punish ordinary people for what they say on Twitter and Facebook, Reprieve told MailOnline.

There are already laws and departments to censor mass media in the country, which is known to crush dissidence with capital punishment.

Only the worst 'rumour-mongers' will be executed, while lesser offenders will be punished with lashes, imprisonment, travel bans, house arrest and a social media ban, a Ministry of Justice source is quoted to have said.

Reprieve - Second Saudi juvenile to face ‘beheading’ for protests