Saudi Social Media User Sentenced To Death Over Posts
The Associated Press (AP) reports that Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian government has sentenced to death retired schoolteacher Mohammed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi. The brother of a UK-based dissident is facing execution for his online activity on Twitter and YouTube that was critical of the Saudi government.
“They are sending a clear and sinister message—that nobody is safe and even a tweet can get you killed,” said Lina Alhathloul to the AP. Alhathloul is the Head of Monitoring and Advocacy at the UK-based Saudi rights organization, ALQST for Human Rights.
Al-Ghamdi’s execution order comes in the context of previous lengthy prison terms for others who spoke out online against the Saudi government’s repression. However, this is the first case that involves the death penalty.
According to the AP, Saudi Arabia executed the third-most individuals in the world in 2022. This included a mass execution of 81 people on March 12, reported Amnesty International. Beyond the death penalty, the country has also been criticized for attacking the freedom of speech, freedom of association, women’s rights, religious freedoms, and migrants’ rights. “Saudi Arabia has announced important reforms, but the repression of independent civil society and critical voices impedes any attempt,” said rights group Human Rights Watch.
Source: The Globetrotter News Service