Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in the world that still actively enforces the death penalty. The kingdom’s justice system, rooted in Islamic Sharia law, mandates capital punishment for a range of offenses, including murder, terrorism, drug trafficking, apostasy, and sorcery. Although in 2022 the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has proposed changes[…]
12
Nov
Nov
Saudi Arabia has put in practice repressive measures that have allowed for the imprisonment of dissidents, arbitrary detentions, and abuses of prisoners. Among the inhumane practices, the death penalty is still a matter of concern, with 198 executions this year, the highest number since 1990 according to Amnesty International. Despite repeated promises to limit the[…]
22
Jul
Jul
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is an important tool to keep states accountable, combat impunity for human rights violations, and promote open dialogue on human rights issues. Nevertheless, states such as Saudi Arabia notoriously do not follow through on their promises to implement recommendations, a fact that many at Saudi Arabia’s fourth Universal Periodic Review[…]
06
Jun
Jun
Currently, Jalal Labbad is sentenced to death for crimes committed when he was a juvenile. Jalal is a young man who represents critical issues concerning human rights, legal fairness and the treatment of religious minorities in Saudi Arabia. His case embodies the harsh and unjust application of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Jalal[…]
07
May
May
Last week, the EU announced a relaxation of Schengen visa rules for the citizens of Saudi Arabia. No human rights compromises were made in exchange. Since democracy constitutes the best umbrella under which human rights can thrive, the next question follows: What is the current state of democracy in Saudi Arabia? In its new report[…]
