AMN //
Saudi Arabia says it has executed 47 prisoners today, including Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The cleric’s name was among a list of the 47 carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. It cited the Interior Ministry for the information. Saudi state television also reported the executions.
Al-Nimr was a central figure in Shiite protests that erupted in 2011 with respect to the Arab Spring. Most of those executed were involved in a series of attacks carried out by al Qaeda from 2003-06, Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Sheikh Nimr was a vocal supporter of the mass anti-government protests that erupted in Eastern Province in 2011, where a Shia majority have long complained of marginalisation. His arrest two years ago during which he was shot, triggered days of unrest. Sheikh Nimr’s death sentence was confirmed in October. Iran has warned that executing Nimr would cost Saudi Arabia dearly.
Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to several advocacy groups that monitor the death penalty worldwide.
Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh appeared on television soon after to describe the executions as just.
In a joint press conference by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice, it was announced the terrorists were executed for their actions and not for their affiliations.
The executions were carried out inside prisons across the Kingdom and implemented through firing squad or by the sword. There were no photos or video footage of the exection as it’s prohibited by law.
The executions reflect Saudi Arabia’s determination to combat terror and come just weeks after the Kingdom’s initiative to form an Islamic Military Alliance against terror.
Ministry of Interior spokesman Mansour Al-Turki said, “Kingdom condemns all forms of terrorism and considers these acts as the worse kind of corruption.” Highlighting the seriousness the Kingdom views terrorism, he added,
“Security forces will waste no effort in combatting anyone involved with these terrorist groups,” said Al-Turki.
Warning Saudi youth, in particular, not to associate with these types of deviant groups, Al-Turki said, “These groups will use you as tools to undermine the security and stability of Saudi Arabia.”
Responding to criticism of the Saudi justice system, Al-Turki said, “The Kingdom follows the Sharia and rejects any outside interference in our judicial system.”
A special court to handle terror-related actions in Saudi Arabia, which was established in 2008, has dealt with 2225 cases involving 6122 suspects. Of the 55 death sentences ruled by the court since that time, four were overturned upon appeal. There are currently 179 individuals whose cases are still open.
163 individuals have been acquitted of all charges by the court and have received a total of SR15,250,00 of compensation between them.
Saudi suspects are given legal representation upon their request at government expense. For any non-Saudi suspects or victims, their embassy is always involved in the court proceedings.
Prominent Shia cleric Nimr Al-Nimr and a leading Al-Qaeda figure Faris Al-Ashuwail were among those executed, the ministry said.
Saudis made up the bulk of those executed; 45 terrorists, and the other two were from Chad and Egypt.
The men were convicted of plotting and carrying out terrorist attacks targeting civilians and security forces in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries.
The simultaneous execution of 47 people on security grounds was the biggest mass execution for such offenses in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 militants who seized Makkah’s Grand Mosque in 1979.
Saudi Arabia in 2015 suffered a series of further bombing and shooting attacks by terrorists. Earlier in that year, a mosque in the Eastern Province was bombed and an attack on a second thwarted by security volunteers. Both incidents were claimed by Daesh.