SAUDI ARABIA EXECUTES 81 PEOPLE IN 1 DAY FOR TERROR OFFENCES

Sat 12 March 2022:

Saudi Arabia has executed 81 men in the last 24 hours, including seven Yemenis and one Syrian national, on charges of “allegiance to foreign terrorist organizations” and holding “deviant beliefs,” according to the Saudi Press Agency, the kingdom’s state news agency. This is the kingdom’s largest known mass execution in modern history.

The figure outnumbers the 67 executions announced in 2021 and the 27 in 2020.

“These individuals … were convicted of various crimes including murdering innocent men, women and children,” SPA said on Saturday, citing a statement from the interior ministry.

“Crimes committed by these individuals also include pledging allegiance to foreign terrorist organisations, such as ISIS [ISIL], al-Qaeda and the Houthis,” it added.

Some travelled to conflict zones to join “terrorist organisations”, according to the SPA.

“The accused were provided with the right to an attorney and were guaranteed their full rights under Saudi law during the judicial process,” it said.

“The kingdom will continue to take a strict and unwavering stance against terrorism and extremist ideologies that threaten the stability of the entire world,” the report added.

According to the report, the men included 37 Saudi nationals who were convicted in a single case of attempting to assassinate security officers and attacking police stations and convoys.

Since the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has been under increased scrutiny from rights groups and Western partners.

It has come under fire for its severe rules on political and religious expression, as well as its use of the death sentence, which includes individuals arrested as juveniles.

Saudi Arabia dismisses allegations of human rights violations, claiming that it follows its laws to safeguard its national security.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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