While attention is focused on the World Cup, Saudi Arabia is allegedly killing 12 individuals.
Despite the Crown Prince’s pledge to restrict the use of the death penalty, the kingdom is alleged to have executed 12 prisoners in just 10 days.
The defendants were imprisoned for non-violent drug offences before receiving a death sentence, according to the human rights organisation Reprieve.
Maya Foa, the organization’s director, has expressed concern that there may soon be 13 fatalities.
They highlighted the case of taxi driver Hussein Abo al-Kheir, who is facing execution in a Saudi prison.
Foa said:-
“While Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) was putting himself centre stage at the World Cup opening ceremony, seated next to Fifa supremo Gianni Infantino, taxi driver Hussein Abo al-Kheir was cowering in a cell, terrified that the executioner will take him next.
“While all eyes are on the football, Saudi Arabia is carrying out a horrifying execution spree, killing people like Hussein, an innocent man who was tortured by Saudi police to ‘confess’.
“Saudi Arabia executed more people than ever before in the first six months of this year, and has now begun executing drug offenders, in large numbers and in secret, as the world focuses on its neighbour.”
According to the non-profit organisation, which gathered data on this week’s executions, most of the defendants were beheaded with a sword.
Three of the men executed were Pakistani, four Syrian, two Jordanian and three Saudi, Reprieve said.
Another man from Jordan was reportedly transferred to a prison wing and is due to be executed on Friday, the NGO added.
The latest figures bring the total number of people executed in Saudi Arabia this year to at least 132 – which is more than the number of Saudi executions in 2020 and 2021 combined.
In August, the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights criticised the country’s justice system, claiming it has betrayed promises to reduce torture and killings in its penal system.
In its report, the group drew attention to a mass beheading of 81 criminals on March 12 – when more than 70% of the victims were killed for their involvement in non-fatal crimes.
Of the total number killed, 41 men – over 50% – were slaughtered for taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations.
To justify the killings, the Saudi leadership branded the men “terrorists”.
The ESOHR reported that at least three of the men provided credible claims they had been tortured and their confessions forced.
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