Iran’s High Council for Human Rights Warns Riyadh against Execution of Activists
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – 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.
