Washington Center for Human Rights strongly condemn the recent executions in Saudi Arabia, and we call upon the United States government to take immediate action to halt this unjust practice. The execution of two individuals in Saudi Arabia on charges of terrorism and attacking a palace is the latest example of the country’s flagrant disregard for human rights and due process.
This is not the first time that Saudi Arabia has been criticized for its use of the death penalty. In fact, the country has a long and disturbing history of executing individuals for a wide range of offenses, often with little or no evidence to support the charges against them. According to Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia executed 149 people in 2020, many of whom were convicted of non-violent crimes such as drug offenses or political dissent.
One of the most high-profile cases of Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty occurred in 2018 when the country executed 37 people in a single day, most of whom were Shia Muslims. The individuals were convicted on charges of terrorism, but many observers have argued that the charges were politically motivated and that the trials did not meet international standards of due process. This mass execution was widely condemned by the international community, including the United Nations.
Another example of Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty occurred in 2019 when the country executed 37-year-old Mujtaba al-Sweikat, who was arrested at the age of 17 for participating in a pro-democracy rally. He was tortured into confessing and sentenced to death. Despite appeals from the international community, including a letter from members of the United States Congress, Saudi Arabia carried out his execution.
These are just a few examples of the many cases in which Saudi Arabia has used the death penalty to silence political dissent and punish individuals for non-violent crimes. The use of the death penalty is a clear violation of human rights and runs counter to the principles of justice and due process. We call on the United States government to use its influence to pressure Saudi Arabia to end the use of the death penalty and to take concrete steps to promote human rights and democracy in the region.
The United States has historically been a vocal advocate for human rights and has used its influence to pressure other countries to respect these rights. We urge the Biden administration to take a strong stance against Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty and to make it clear that such practices will not be tolerated. The United States should use its diplomatic and economic leverage to pressure Saudi Arabia to end this practice and to promote human rights and democracy in the region.
In addition to condemning Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty, we also call on the United States to reevaluate its relationship with the country. Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights is abysmal, and the country’s support for extremist groups and its role in the ongoing conflict in Yemen have been well-documented. The United States should use this opportunity to reevaluate its relationship with Saudi Arabia and to make it clear that human rights and democracy are non-negotiable principles in its foreign policy.
In conclusion, the recent executions in Saudi Arabia are a clear violation of human rights and due process, and they represent a continuation of the country’s long and disturbing history of using the death penalty to silence political dissent and punish individuals for non-violent crimes. We call on the United States government to take immediate action to pressure Saudi Arabia to end the use of the death penalty and to promote human rights and democracy in the region. It is time for the United States to take a strong stance against human rights abuses, and to make it clear that such practices will not be tolerated.