Saudi Arabia faces execution warning over young protester

Saudi Arabia is preparing to execute a young man for attending demonstrations and funerals when he was between 15 and 17 years old, the Guardian reported. Human rights groups say Youssef al-Manasif faces imminent execution in what represents a rising use of the death penalty for non-violent offenses in the kingdom. [1]

According to the Guardian, Saudi authorities arrested al-Manasif in 2017. He was accused of offenses that included joining protests organized by the Shia minority for religious freedom, as well as attending funerals that officials deemed to be demonstrations. [1]

Rights groups stated that al-Manasif was subjected to torture following his detention, according to the Guardian. He was not permitted to meet with his lawyer until five years after his initial arrest for the non-violent charges. [1]

Saudi Arabia occupies the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and relies on a legal system based on Sharia law. The state enforces a conservative Sunni interpretation that limits public expression and restricts personal freedoms. [12][13]