Iran’s High Council for Human Rights Warns Riyadh against Execution of Activists
TEHRAN (Basirat): The Iranian High Council for Human Rights expressed deep concern over a possible move by the Saudi regime to execute five political activists in the oil-rich kingdom, describing Riyadh’s policy to crack down on the “truth-seeking” activists as unacceptable.
A recent report about Saudi Arabian public prosecutor’s request that five
political activists, including Israa al-Ghomgham and her husband, be sentenced
to death is extremely regrettable and worrying, the council said in a statement
on Saturday.
"The policy of Saudi Arabia in suppressing open-minded and truth-seeking Muslims
on charge of terrorism is ridiculous and unacceptable,” the human rights body
said.
"If terrorists are to be dealt with, the current Saudi rulers are the prime
suspects responsible for destroying the lives and properties of hundreds of
thousands of innocent people in the region,” the statement added.
Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against five human
rights activists from the kingdom's Eastern Province currently on trial in a
secretive terrorism court, groups including Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.
Among the detainees is Ghomgham. Saudi activists said she's the first woman to
possibly face the death penalty for rights-related work. Charges against her
include incitement to protest and providing moral support to rioters.
"Any execution is appalling, but seeking the death penalty for activists like
Ghomgham, who are not even accused of violent behavior, is monstrous," Sarah
Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Source: Tasnim
