(Geneva) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday “condemned” the “mass execution” of 81 people sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Posted at 12:44 p.m.
Updated at 1:00 p.m.
“Of those who were beheaded on March 12, 41 belonged to the Shia minority and had taken part in demonstrations against the government in 2011-2012 asking to be able to participate more in the political process, seven others were Yemenis and one Syrian,” said detailed Michelle Bachelet in a press release.
Mme Bachelet stresses that according to the information available to his services, some of those executed were convicted following trials that do not meet international standards.
In the case of the Yemenis “the executions seem to be linked to the ongoing war in Yemen”, further notes the High Commissioner.
“Implementation of the death penalty following unfair trials is prohibited by international human rights and humanitarian law and may be considered war crimes,” writes the former President of Chile.
She recalls that the death penalty is incompatible with the foundations of human rights and that not giving information to relatives about the circumstances of the execution can be considered as torture and ill-treatment.
The authorities also have the obligation to return the bodies of the victims to their family or relatives.
Mme Bachelet also expresses his concern about Saudi legislation which includes “a very broad definition” of what constitutes terrorism and risks “turning into criminals people who exercise their freedom of expression and their right to demonstrate peacefully”.
She called on Riyadh to end executions, declare a moratorium on the use of the death penalty and commute the sentences of those on death row. It also asks the authorities to change their legislation on terrorism.
According to the official news agency, those executed – 73 Saudis, 7 Yemenis and a Syrian – are accused of belonging to several “terrorist” groups including the jihadist organization Islamic State and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
They tried to foment several attacks in the kingdom, says the agency, which also points out that 13 judges supervised the trials.