Alkarama firmly condemns the execution of the seven detainees at 8 this morning on a public place in Abha by firing squad. In a statement published today, a group of UN independent experts "expressed outrage" at the execution "despite repeated calls to the Saudi authorities not to carry out the sentences by the UN and civil society organisations". UN Special Rapporteur on extrajducial executions Christof Heynes stated: “I reiterate that any death sentence undertaken in contravention of a State’s international obligations is tantamount to an arbitrary execution, and is unlawful.”
--
Alkarama has been informed that a Saudi official has confirmed to the families of the seven detainees in Saudi Arabia who were due to be executed on 5 March 2013, that they will be executed tommorrow, Wednesday 13 March 2013. "If these executions are indeed carried out, they will be tantamount to an extrajudicial execution, as their trials did not respect fundamental fair trial guarantees" stated Rachid Mesli, Director of Alkarama's Legal Department "The Saudi authorities should immediately halt this execution and either release the 7 individuals or give them a fair trial".