Bahrain: Maher Al-Khabbaz Awaits Impending Execution Following Flawed Trial

On 29 January 2018, Bahrain’s Court of Cassation confirmed the conviction of death row detainee Maher Abbas al-Khabbaz. Because the Court of Cassation is the country’s highest court, he can no longer appeal his death sentence, and his execution is now at the discretion of the king. The court’s decision comes in spite of credible[…]

Kuwait executes seven in first use of death penalty since 2013

The Government of Kuwait executed seven prisoners by hanging on 25 January 2017. Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah authorized the executions, which took place at the country’s central prison. Kuwait’s hangings come on the heels of recent executions in Bahrain and signal another disappointing move away from death penalty moratoria in the region. Those[…]

Bahrain Executes Stateless Torture Victims Following King Hamad’s Authorization

15 January 2017 – Bahrain today executed three torture victims following authorization by King Hamad. Sami Mushaima (42), Ali Al-Singace (21) and Abbas Al-Samea (27) were executed this morning by firing squad, the first people executed in Bahrain since July 2010, and the first Bahrainis executed since March 1996. The execution came less than a[…]

Bahrain Court of Cassation upholds death sentence against 3 torture victims

9 January 2017 – The Court of Cassation in Bahrain today upheld the death sentence against three defendants, life imprisonment against seven other defendants, and revocation of citizenship for eight of these ten defendants. They were convicted of killing three policemen in a bombing incident on 3 March 2014. We, the undersigned, condemn this sentence[…]

Saudi Executions Continue at an Alarming Rate

On 1 June the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) of Saudi Arabia handed down 14 death sentences, reportedly the largest mass death sentence in the kingdom’s history. The court also issued nine prison sentences and one acquittal in the trial. All charges were in relation to an alleged attack on police forces in the predominantly Shia Eastern[…]