Saudi Arabia plans to behead female political activist
BartSimpson @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:56 am
http://www.theweek.co.uk/95992/saudi-ar ... l-activist
$1:
Saudi Arabia plans to behead female political activist
Aug 22, 2018
Human rights groups have condemned the decision by Saudi prosecutors
Saudi Arabia is coming under severe criticism for seeking the death penalty for a woman because of her political activism, reports suggest.
The Independent says Israa al-Ghomgham, 29, was arrested along with her husband Moussa al-Hashem in December 2015 “for their roles in organising anti-government protests in eastern Qatif province in the aftermath of the Arab Spring”.
Charges against her include incitement to protest and providing moral support to rioters. Ghomgham is the first woman in Saudi Arabia to be sentenced to death for political protests.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a statement on Wednesday: “Any execution is appalling, but seeking the death penalty for activists like Israa al-Ghomgham, who are not even accused of violent behavior, is monstrous.”
The Guardian adds that ALQST, a London-based Saudi rights group, also reported on Ghomgham’s case earlier this week.
Ghomgham’s situation has also ensured that the vitriolic diplomatic dispute between Saudi Arabia and the government of Canada rumbles on. Canada has been an outspoken critic of the Saudis’ supposedly unlawful detention of activists, and the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said of Ghomgham: “Canada is extremely concerned by the arrests of women’s rights activists.
“These concerns have been raised with the Saudi government. Canada will always stand up for the protection of human rights, including women’s rights and freedom of expression around the world.”
The public prosecutor has recommended the execution of five other defendants under anti-terrorism laws during a court hearing earlier this month.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy in which political parties and political protest are prohibited by law. However, a drive for reform has taken place over the last two years, with women being allowed more rights than previously,and a number of gender segregation laws being lifted.
Despite this, 146 people were executed in Saudi Arabia last year, according to Amnesty International. Beheading is the most common method of capital punishment in the country.
Aug 22, 2018
Human rights groups have condemned the decision by Saudi prosecutors
Saudi Arabia is coming under severe criticism for seeking the death penalty for a woman because of her political activism, reports suggest.
The Independent says Israa al-Ghomgham, 29, was arrested along with her husband Moussa al-Hashem in December 2015 “for their roles in organising anti-government protests in eastern Qatif province in the aftermath of the Arab Spring”.
Charges against her include incitement to protest and providing moral support to rioters. Ghomgham is the first woman in Saudi Arabia to be sentenced to death for political protests.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a statement on Wednesday: “Any execution is appalling, but seeking the death penalty for activists like Israa al-Ghomgham, who are not even accused of violent behavior, is monstrous.”
The Guardian adds that ALQST, a London-based Saudi rights group, also reported on Ghomgham’s case earlier this week.
Ghomgham’s situation has also ensured that the vitriolic diplomatic dispute between Saudi Arabia and the government of Canada rumbles on. Canada has been an outspoken critic of the Saudis’ supposedly unlawful detention of activists, and the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said of Ghomgham: “Canada is extremely concerned by the arrests of women’s rights activists.
“These concerns have been raised with the Saudi government. Canada will always stand up for the protection of human rights, including women’s rights and freedom of expression around the world.”
The public prosecutor has recommended the execution of five other defendants under anti-terrorism laws during a court hearing earlier this month.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy in which political parties and political protest are prohibited by law. However, a drive for reform has taken place over the last two years, with women being allowed more rights than previously,and a number of gender segregation laws being lifted.
Despite this, 146 people were executed in Saudi Arabia last year, according to Amnesty International. Beheading is the most common method of capital punishment in the country.
No comment.
martin14 @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:59 am
Let's turn Dopey loose on the Saudis for another month, they'll declare war on us. 
Thanos @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:35 pm
Better sell 'em another trillion in weaponry as a reward for keeping their bitches in line.
Robair @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:53 pm
Can we now build the pipelines and refineries required to cease the import of Saudi oil?
We have more than enough of our own.
BartSimpson @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:58 pm
Thanos @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:00 pm
Robair Robair:
Can we now build the pipelines and refineries required to cease the import of Saudi oil?
No. The Denis Coderre and David Suzuki types and their assorted cultists hate Alberta far more than they do the sort of things that the likes of the Saudis perpetrate.
CharlesAnthony @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:08 pm
This is small beans.
Lots of poor people in The Land Of Sod are beheaded just for asking their employer/slave-masters for their pay.
Freakinoldguy @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:13 pm
Interesting to say the least. In their less than civilized minds the Kingdom of Barbarity isn't just executing some poor political activist they're executing a woman who was integral in creating an environment that would have led to another Arab Spring uprising only this time in Saudi Arabia. A movement which, if people remember was used for gov't change by any means possible including violence.
So, I'd say that in this case the term "political activist" is what the civilized world would call her but, the Saudi's consider her a traitorous bitch who wanted revolution to create regime change in the Kingdom and if history is any indicator the House of Saud will do anything to protect it's position of power including the beheading of any and all people who might pose a threat to them, women included.
Freakinoldguy @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:18 pm
Robair Robair:
Can we now build the pipelines and refineries required to cease the import of Saudi oil?
We have more than enough of our own.
We have more than enough of our own.
Nope. We'll never see the end of Saudi Oil in Canada till K.C. Iriving's progeny decide to buy Canadian rather than support a regime that tops the list of every human rights violation in existence.
MeganC @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 2:07 pm
Crazy.
Robair @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 2:12 pm
But tariffs and trade wars are all the rage right now.
Just Slap a 300% doodie on Saudi crude.
Jabberwalker @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:18 pm
Robair Robair:
But tariffs and trade wars are all the rage right now.
Just Slap a 300% doodie on Saudi crude.
Just Slap a 300% doodie on Saudi crude.
Cancel the LAV shipments.
Robair @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:21 pm
Right, but after we "promise" to ship once payment is received... 
Strutz @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 5:19 pm
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
No comment.
I know.
What's the point when being critical of their way of life results in being criticized for being critical.
GreenTiger @ Wed Aug 22, 2018 11:39 pm
Bart won't make a comment but I will.
This will probably be considered racist, Islamophobic, etc but beheading this woman is medieval barbarity.
We need to develop more American and Canadian oilfield so that we don't have to contribute money to the medieval creatons.