The recent actions conducted by Saudi authorities are deeply concerning. A Saudi man, known as Abdul-Majeed al-Nimr is the father of 4 children and 59 years old. He belongs to the Shiite-majority region of Qatif. Saudi authorities executed this person on August 17. They claimed that he was involved with an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group. But these accusations may not be true.
A Saudi right group based in Berlin also strongly opposed this execution. They also argued that the charges were fabricated by the authorities. The European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR) also claimed that all of the facts presented by Saudi authorities are false. This shows a serious abuse of power and a disregard for human rights by the Saudi government. It clearly represents that they are targeting individuals without any solid proof, especially from minority communities, under the guise of fighting terrorism.
It is not good to charge al-Nimr with being part of al-Qaeda. It is the terrorist group that would never even accept him. This is because he is Shiite and they only accept those members that are Sunni.
According to the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR), the Saudi Organization executed Al-Nimr not because of any crime but to teach others who speak against the government. This incident clearly highlights the Saudi system is totally flawed and injustice especially for innocent ones. Rather than serving justice, Saudi authorities use its power in a wrong way and utilize its legal system as a tool to crush dissent and maintain its grip on power.
The government’s actions in this case raise serious concerns about the fairness, transparency, and reliability of the country’s legal processes. It’s clear that Saudi Arabia is more interested in punishing those who oppose them than in upholding justice and human rights.
This action from the Saudi government clearly highlights how the country is ignoring international laws.
For many past years, the Eastern Province has suffered from serious tension. Especially the area of Qaif also is suffering with the complexity of Shiite minority and the Sunni-led government
The tension is not new. Back to 2011, when protests began, inspired by the Arab Spring. It’s been growing at that time.
People were asking for the government to stop what they thought was unfair treatment. These actions of people made the situation more complicated but they still find justice an fairness.
However, any wrongdoing is strongly opposed by the Saudi government and never compromise on its strict and oppressive actions. The recent case highlights that the government has no interest in people’s thoughts, they only want to punish those who are not in favor of government ideas.
This approach only makes the situation complicated and further highlights the ongoing human rights issues in the country.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to execute Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shiite cleric, in 2016 was a major mistake that worsened sectarian tensions.
Nimr’s execution not only worsened the situation in Saudi Arabia but also increased tension in Iran. This case also strained the relation of Saudi Arabia with Iran. As this country is the key regional rival.
It also worsened the situation in the Gulf region, as it deepened the division between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Shiite population of Saudi Arabia is approximately lie between 10 and 15 percent of the total 32.2 million people living in the country
This year the Saudi authorities have already carried out more than 40 executions. If this figure is continuing to increase, the number of executions could easily surpass the 170 carried out last year.
This pattern of frequent executions raises serious concerns about the country’s approach to justice and human rights.