NEW YORK: instead of speaking directly with oil rich Saudi Arabia, UN through its two independent human rights experts condemns the execution by firing squad of seven men in Saudi Arabia despite repeated calls by the UN and civil society organizations not to carry out the death sentences.
“I deeply regret that Saudi Arabia executed seven individuals today despite my and other experts’ appeal not to do so,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns.
“I reiterate that any death sentence undertaken in contravention of a State’s international obligations is tantamount to an arbitrary execution, and is unlawful.”
In an urgent joint appeal yesterday, Mr. Heyns and fellow UN experts called on Saudi authorities to halt the execution of the men, who were allegedly not given fair trials.
According to reports, the men were charged with organizing a criminal group, armed robbery and raiding and breaking into jewellery stores in 2005, and then sentenced to death in 2009.
