US-based human rights group criticizes Saudi for executing 48 people in past four months

Riyadh, April 26: The United States-based human rights group have severely criticized Saudi Arabia for executing 48 people in the past four months and urged to improve a notoriously unfair criminal justice system.

 

Notably, Saudi Arabia had been regularly criticized by the world for the unfair criminal justice system and highest rates of execution of the criminals. Suspects convicted of terrorism, homicide, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking face the death penalty. In spite of the worldwide criticism, there is no change or decline in the execution rate of Saudi Arabia.

Therefore, the US-based human rights group urged the kingdom to improve a notoriously unfair criminal justice system. Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s Middle East director said, “It’s bad enough that Saudi Arabia executes so many people, but many of them have not committed a violent crime. Any plan to limit drug executions needs to include improvements to a justice system that doesn’t provide for fair trials.”

HRW also added that Saudi Arabia had carried out nearly 600 executions since the beginning of 2014, more than a third of them in drug cases. “Nearly 150 people were put to death last year in the kingdom, where convicts are beheaded using a sword,” she concluded.

The request from US-based human rights group comes after Saudi Arabia executed 48 people in the past four months in which half of them were on non-violent drug charges. Saudi Arabia government, in reply, said the death penalty is a deterrent for further crime.

On the other side, Saudi Arabia is witnessing massive social changes as the Crown Prince is trying to soften his country’s image as it seeks to diversify its oil-dependent economy and attract international investors.