On 23 March, ADHRB has delivered an oral intervention at the United Nation Human Rights Council session 49 under item 4, during the General debate. ADHRB calls on the international community to speak up about Saudi Arabia’s recent mass execution.
Mr. President,
ADHRB would like to thank the UN High Commissioner for her statement condemning the mass execution of 81 individuals by beheading in Saudi Arabia on 12 March. 41 of those belonged to the Shia minority and had participated in the pro-democracy demonstrations of 2011. We support the declaration that their execution may amount to a war crime in light of the lack of guarantees for fair trial.
On the other hand, we are raising caution about the fate of Sadeq Majeed Thamer and Jaafar Mohamed Sultan who face imminent risk of execution in Saudi Arabia. The two Bahrainis were previously sentenced to life imprisonment in Bahrain ion terrorism-related charges. Saudi authorities arrested them on 8 May 2015 and forcibly disappeared them for 115 days, while allegations of torture and violations of due process rights were ignored. They were sentenced to death on 7 October 2021 on the same charges. They face imminent risk of execution.
ADHRB calls upon the Human Rights Council to pressure Saudi into commuting existant death sentences, since the death penalty contravenes basic human rights. We urge the international community to not remain silent any longer amidst these mass executions and to pressure Saudi Arabia to establsih a moratorium on executions.
Thank you.
