Saudi Arabia is preparing to execute Yousself al-Manasif for participating in a protest in 2015 when He was 15 years old

Youssef al-Manasif

Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing to execute Youssef al-Manasif, who was arrested in 2017 at the age of 15 for participating in demonstrations and attending funerals that authorities classified as protests. The Saudi Shia man was convicted by the Specialized Criminal Court and sentenced to death. According to a report by The Guardian, the Saudi Supreme Court has upheld his sentence, potentially exhausting his final avenue of appeal.

Human rights organisation Reprieve alleges that al-Manasif was tortured and coerced into signing a false confession. The group also says he did not meet his state-appointed lawyer until 2022, five years after his arrest. His family has reportedly avoided speaking publicly about the case for fear of harassment or arrest. Duaa Dhainy, a consultant for Reprieve and the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights, called for him to be treated as a minor because the alleged offences occurred when he was under 18.

The case has renewed scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s use of capital punishment against people accused of crimes committed as children. Reprieve says at least 17 people who were minors at the time of their alleged offences have been executed in the kingdom since 2015. Although Saudi Arabia announced a decree in 2020 intended to end death sentences for juvenile offences, rights groups say cases involving child defendants have continued. UN human rights experts have previously urged Riyadh to halt executions of people convicted for acts allegedly committed before they turned 18.

Truth. Morality. Justice.

Our independent journalism is fueled by people like you.

Join us at patreon.com/tmjnewsnetwork