Family of Saudi Schoolboy Protester Fears His Execution Is Imminent

Ali Mohammed al-Nimr is accused of participating in an
illegal demonstration and firearms offences

THE TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama urged to intervene on behalf of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr after Riyadh rejects his appeal against the death sentence

The family of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, a Saudi teenager facing death by crucifixion or beheading for taking part in an anti-government protest, fear his execution is imminent.

A member of the Shia minority, he was only 17 years old and still a schoolboy when he was arrested three and a half years ago at a rally in Qatif during the Arab Spring.

The Saudi authorities sentenced the teenager to death after convicting him of armed robbery, possessing a machine gun, attacking security forces and attending an illegal protest.

An appeal was rejected by the country’s supreme court last month and he was moved into solitary confinement along with, it is believed, two other teenagers facing the death penalty for similar offences – Dawood Hussein al-Marhoon and Abdullah Hasan al-Zaher.

The death sentence imposed on the teenager has intensified criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record.

Fears that the Saudis are preparing for his execution have been heightened by the abrupt cancellation of prison visits and phone calls. » | David Millward | Friday, October 16, 2015

Mother of Saudi Man Sentenced to Crucifixion Begs Obama to Intervene

Ali Mohammed al-Nimr

THE GUARDIAN: US president urged to rescue Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, sentenced to be beheaded and crucified for allegedly attending anti-government protests

The mother of a Saudi protester sentenced to death by beheading and crucifixion has begged Barack Obama to intervene to save her son’s life.

In her first interview with foreign media, Nusra al-Ahmed, the mother of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, whose case has made headlines around the world, described the intended punishment as savage and “backwards in the extreme”.

Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Reprieve, the US talkshow host Bill Maher and the British prime minister, David Cameron, have all weighed in with calls for clemency to stop Nimr, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, from being beheaded and then crucified.

The oil-rich state is facing increasing diplomatic scrutiny over the severity of its penal system as it takes over the chair of the UN human rights council.

Asked how she was coping knowing that at any moment her son could be put to death following the Saudi supreme court’s rejection of his appeal, Ahmed said: “For other people every hour is composed of 60 minutes, but for me every hour is 60 beats of pain.” (+video interview with mother) » | Shiv Malik, Mona Mahmood and Laurence Topham | Wednesday, October 14, 2015