Saudi Arabia executes 37 persons convicted on terrorism charges
Representational photo.
(IraqiNews) Saudi Minister of Interior announced, on Tuesday, executing 37 persons after convicting them on terrorism charges.
The executed persons include 11 men who were convicted of spying for Iran, while at least 14 others were convicted of violent offences and participation in anti-government demonstrations between 2011 and 2012.
“The execution of 37 people convicted on terrorism charges marks an alarming escalation in Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty,” said Amnesty International.
Meanwhile, Lynn Maalouf, Middle East Research Director at Amnesty International said, “Today’s mass execution is a chilling demonstration of the Saudi Arabian authorities callous disregard for human life. It is also yet another gruesome indication of how the death penalty is being used as a political tool to crush dissent from within the country’s Shi’a minority.”
It is noteworthy that the Amnesty International revealed that Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, China and the United States of America are the most countries that carried out executions last year.