Outrage Follows Saudi Arabia's Execution of Nearly 50 Prisoners
Saudi Arabia--recently chosen to to head a key United Nations human rights panel--on Saturday executed 47 people convicted of "terrorism," including at least four convicted of offenses related to political protest.
According to Reuters, the executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, with four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading.
Saudi Arabia--recently chosen to to head a key United Nations human rights panel--on Saturday executed 47 people convicted of "terrorism," including at least four convicted of offenses related to political protest.
According to Reuters, the executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, with four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading.
Among those killed was prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, whom the Guardian reports "had called for pro-democracy demonstrations and whose arrest in 2012 sparked protests in which three people died."
"Nimr," the Guardian added, "had long been regarded as the most vocal Shia leader in the eastern Saudi province of Qatif, willing to publicly criticise the ruling al-Saud family and call for elections. He was, however, careful to avoid calling for violence, analysts say."
The Associated Press noted that "The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region."
The mass execution comes on the heels of a deadly year that saw Saudi Arabia execute more than 150 people, "many of them for non-violent offenses," said Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at international human rights organization Reprieve.
"Today's appalling news, with nearly 50 executed in a single day, suggests 2016 could be even worse," Foa said on Saturday. "Alarmingly, the Saudi Government is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom, executing at least four of them today."
What's more, she added, "there are now real concerns that those protesters sentenced to death as children could be next in line to face the swordsman's blade." According to Reprieve, the list of people executed did not include the names of a number of people sentenced to death as children who are still facing execution--including Ali al Nimr, Sheikh Nimr's nephew; Dawoud al Marhoon; and Abdullah al Zaher, who were also sentenced to death over their alleged involvement in the 2012 anti-government protests, despite having been aged 17, 17, and 15 respectively at the time.
"Saudi Arabia's allies--including the U.S. and UK--must not turn a blind eye to such atrocities and must urgently appeal to the Kingdom to change course," Foa concluded.
Many echoed that call on social media, highlighting the apparent hypocrisy of Saudi Arabia's seat on the UN Human Rights Council.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition that has been dropping bombs in Yemen for more than nine months, killing scores of civilians and destroying critical infrastructure, announced Saturday the end of a ceasefire that had been in place since December 15.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Saudi Arabia--recently chosen to to head a key United Nations human rights panel--on Saturday executed 47 people convicted of "terrorism," including at least four convicted of offenses related to political protest.
According to Reuters, the executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, with four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading.
Among those killed was prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, whom the Guardian reports "had called for pro-democracy demonstrations and whose arrest in 2012 sparked protests in which three people died."
"Nimr," the Guardian added, "had long been regarded as the most vocal Shia leader in the eastern Saudi province of Qatif, willing to publicly criticise the ruling al-Saud family and call for elections. He was, however, careful to avoid calling for violence, analysts say."
The Associated Press noted that "The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region."
The mass execution comes on the heels of a deadly year that saw Saudi Arabia execute more than 150 people, "many of them for non-violent offenses," said Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at international human rights organization Reprieve.
"Today's appalling news, with nearly 50 executed in a single day, suggests 2016 could be even worse," Foa said on Saturday. "Alarmingly, the Saudi Government is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom, executing at least four of them today."
What's more, she added, "there are now real concerns that those protesters sentenced to death as children could be next in line to face the swordsman's blade." According to Reprieve, the list of people executed did not include the names of a number of people sentenced to death as children who are still facing execution--including Ali al Nimr, Sheikh Nimr's nephew; Dawoud al Marhoon; and Abdullah al Zaher, who were also sentenced to death over their alleged involvement in the 2012 anti-government protests, despite having been aged 17, 17, and 15 respectively at the time.
"Saudi Arabia's allies--including the U.S. and UK--must not turn a blind eye to such atrocities and must urgently appeal to the Kingdom to change course," Foa concluded.
Many echoed that call on social media, highlighting the apparent hypocrisy of Saudi Arabia's seat on the UN Human Rights Council.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition that has been dropping bombs in Yemen for more than nine months, killing scores of civilians and destroying critical infrastructure, announced Saturday the end of a ceasefire that had been in place since December 15.
Saudi Arabia--recently chosen to to head a key United Nations human rights panel--on Saturday executed 47 people convicted of "terrorism," including at least four convicted of offenses related to political protest.
According to Reuters, the executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, with four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading.
Among those killed was prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, whom the Guardian reports "had called for pro-democracy demonstrations and whose arrest in 2012 sparked protests in which three people died."
"Nimr," the Guardian added, "had long been regarded as the most vocal Shia leader in the eastern Saudi province of Qatif, willing to publicly criticise the ruling al-Saud family and call for elections. He was, however, careful to avoid calling for violence, analysts say."
The Associated Press noted that "The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region."
The mass execution comes on the heels of a deadly year that saw Saudi Arabia execute more than 150 people, "many of them for non-violent offenses," said Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at international human rights organization Reprieve.
"Today's appalling news, with nearly 50 executed in a single day, suggests 2016 could be even worse," Foa said on Saturday. "Alarmingly, the Saudi Government is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom, executing at least four of them today."
What's more, she added, "there are now real concerns that those protesters sentenced to death as children could be next in line to face the swordsman's blade." According to Reprieve, the list of people executed did not include the names of a number of people sentenced to death as children who are still facing execution--including Ali al Nimr, Sheikh Nimr's nephew; Dawoud al Marhoon; and Abdullah al Zaher, who were also sentenced to death over their alleged involvement in the 2012 anti-government protests, despite having been aged 17, 17, and 15 respectively at the time.
"Saudi Arabia's allies--including the U.S. and UK--must not turn a blind eye to such atrocities and must urgently appeal to the Kingdom to change course," Foa concluded.
Many echoed that call on social media, highlighting the apparent hypocrisy of Saudi Arabia's seat on the UN Human Rights Council.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition that has been dropping bombs in Yemen for more than nine months, killing scores of civilians and destroying critical infrastructure, announced Saturday the end of a ceasefire that had been in place since December 15.