Country May Execute Its First Non-Violent Female Activist
Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution is seeking the death penalty against a female human rights activist for her non-violent activist work.
According to Human Rights Watch, Israa al-Ghomgham is facing the death penalty along with four other activists for charges including “‘participating in protests in the Qatif region,’ ‘incitement to protest,’ ‘chanting slogans hostile to the regime,’ ‘attempting to inflame public opinion,’ ‘filming protests and publishing on social media,’ and ‘providing moral support to rioters.’” All of the activists and one additional activist who is not facing the death penalty, have been held in pretrial detention without legal representation for over two years.
The grounds for execution are reportedly based on ta’zir, a principle of Islamic law that gives a judge discretion over the sentence and definition of what constitutes a crime.
Al-Ghomgham is a Shia and the first female activist to ever face the death penalty, which, if executed, will set a dangerous precedent for other detained activists. She was arrested on December 6, 2015 after participating and documenting the 2011 demonstrations in the Eastern Province and calling for an end against discrimination for Saudi Shias.
In 2014 eight men were sentenced to death for their participating in the 2011 Eastern Province demonstrations, and an additional 14 were sentenced to death in 2016. (Read more from “Country May Execute Its First Non-Violent Female Activist” HERE)
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