Saudi Goes 'Easy' on Child Executions as The Death Penalty Drops by 85% in 2020

Three young Saudis from the minority Shia community had their death sentences commuted to 10 years in prison Sunday, officials said, as the kingdom seeks to improve its human rights record.

Ali al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdullah al-Zaher were arrested as minors in 2012 on terrorism-related charges after they took part in anti-government protests.

“Ali al-Nimr was re-sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, inclusive of time served… Therefore his release date has been set for 2022,” the kingdom’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) said in a statement.

“Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdullah al-Zaher… have been re-sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, inclusive of time served, and will be released in 2022,” it added.

The announcement comes after the HRC last April said the kingdom was ending the death penalty for those convicted of crimes committed while they were under 18.

“Today’s ruling is clearly a positive step,” said Maya Foa, director of Britain-based campaign group Reprieve.

“True change isn’t about a few high-profile cases; it means making sure no-one is ever sentenced to death for a childhood ‘crime’ again in Saudi Arabia.”

Crown Prince Mohammed is the force behind the kingdom’s efforts to loosen restrictions, modernise the country and pivot away from an ultraconservative interpretation of Islamic law known as Wahhabism that many Saudis still practice.

Saudi Arabia announced last month that executions dropped by 85% in 2020 because of legal changes halting death sentences for non-violent drug-related crimes.

The kingdom also ordered judges to end the controversial practice of public flogging, replacing it with jail time, fines or community service.

This article has been adapted from its original source.     

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