Saudi executions

Published March 15, 2022

THE execution of 81 men by Saudi authorities on Saturday — the largest single-day execution in the kingdom’s modern history — is an egregious example of a state arbitrarily depriving individuals of their right to life. The scale of it is shocking — it eclipses even the 1980 execution of 63 militants who had stormed the Holy Kaaba in Makkah in 1979. The right to life forms the bedrock on which all other human rights are based. Though the kingdom insists that all those killed had been provided legal representation and “guaranteed their full rights”, little is known about the cases or legal process that led to the convictions. This is highly problematic, as rights groups have repeatedly pointed out that prisoners of conscience and dissidents have also been put to death in Saudi Arabia, as have individuals who were arrested while they were still children. Activists also question the fairness of trials, especially as the kingdom has repeatedly shown it is notoriously intolerant of dissent.

Indeed, since the kingdom’s last mass execution in January 2016, which had included the execution of prominent dissident and Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, the kingdom has put to death dozens of members of the minority community after charging them with terrorism-related crimes. In 2019, for example, the majority of the 37 individuals executed by Saudi authorities belonged to the community, as did 41 out of the 81 executed on Saturday. Saudi Arabia wants to show the world it is modernising: it cannot also continue to be one of the leading executioners in the world. Western powers’ silence on its practices is also quite cynical, especially as criticism of other countries who execute prisoners has usually been swift and unequivocal. There may be little hope on this front, however: some observers have suggested that the ‘convicts’ may have been executed en masse to take advantage of Western powers’ preoccupation with the invasion of Ukraine, with attendant concerns over oil supplies giving the kingdom some added insulation at this point.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.