Saudi Arabia 2 young Shia Muslims sentenced to death

AhlulBayt News Agency
Specialized Criminal Court in Jeddah sentenced on May 27, 28 two young adult Shia Muslims with a false accusation. Reda Jafar Al-Rubh 26 years old and Ali Mohammed Baqir Al-Nimr 17 years old were sentenced to death for their involvement in protests that occurred in Qatif in early 2011.

Al-Rubh who was arrested last June accused of purchasing and possessing weapons, shooting security forces and harboring security wanted.
On the other hand, Al-Nimr, a nephew of Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr who has been detained since July 2012, was convicted of joining a terrorist cell incites sedition, targeting security vehicles with Molotov bombs, carrying weapons and participating in mob gathering.
Death penalty comes after the issuance of Counter-terrorism Law and it is considered the 1st to be handed out to a protestor since the outbreak of protest in Qatif 3 years ago. Al-Rubh and Al-Nimr objected the sentence and demanded to appeal the judgment which was approved by the general prosecutor with the consent of 3 judges.
The uprisings that occurred in 2011 resulted in the arrests of over 900 people, with 300 remaining in jail today.
Shia Rights Watch sees the actions of the SCC as a violation of Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states "No one shall be subjected arbitrary arrest, detention or exile". This excessive punishment violates the rights of these protestors and SRW is calling for these decisions to be overturned. These 2 protesters were exercising their right to express their discontent with the government that has consistently oppressed them over recent years. The death sentences handed down by this court have no place in the 21st century. Shia Rights Watch is also calling on the international community to stand with them to condemn these actions.
On May 29, women, children and young men participated in the marches which came out in Awwamiyya to protest against such arbitrary judgments.
On the other hand, Amnesty International said that "The Saudi Arabian authorities have responded with repressive measures against those suspected of taking part in or supporting protests or expressing views critical of the state. Protesters have been held without charge and incommunicado for days or weeks at a time, and some are reported to have been tortured and otherwise ill-treated. Close to 20 people connected with protests in the Eastern Province have been killed since 2011 and hundreds have been imprisoned."
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception. It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.