With allies like this, who needs Russia? Saudi Arabia conducts mass execution of 37 Shi'ite Muslims

Sputnik
Wed, 24 Apr 2019 09:43 UTC

© CC BY 2.0 / Jon Rawlinson / ministry of the interior, riyadh, saudi arabia

According to the ministry, as cited by the Saudi Press Agency, the individuals were charged with forming terrorist cells, adopting terrorist ideology, attacking security officers, using explosives and incitement to sectarian strife.

The Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry has carried out the execution of 37 Saudi nationals charged with terrorism, Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday, citing the ministry.

The sentences were carried out in Riyadh, the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina, central Qassim province, and Eastern Province, home to the country's Shia minority, Al Jazeera reports.

The interior ministry said the individuals had been found guilty according to the law and ordered to be executed by the Specialised Criminal Court in Riyadh, which focuses on terrorism trials, and the country's high court.

According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia executed 139 people in 2018 based on the interior ministry's statements. Most of the executions were for murder and drug charges.

Comment: A beheaded body of one of the men, reported to be a Sunni militant, was pinned to a pole and put on public display...