GENEVA (15 March 2018) – UN experts have expressed concern over the imminent execution in Saudi Arabia of a man convicted of spying for Iran, financing terrorism and spreading the Shia faith, and called on the Government to annul the death sentence.
The experts also called on Saudi authorities to halt the executions of 14 others charged with spying for Iran.
Abbas Haiji A. Al-Hassan and the 14 others were sentenced in December 2016 by the Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh. The death sentences were upheld by further court rulings in July and December 2017. The case of Mr. Al-Hassan was later transferred to the Presidency of State Security. His sentence is currently subject to ratification by the King.