SAUDI ARABIA: SURGE IN EXECUTIONS IN RECENT WEEKS

Saudi Arabia has seen a significant increase in executions in the last six weeks, with at least 27 people executed since the beginning of the year, Amnesty International said.
At least 27 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia in 2011, as of June 8, the same as the total number of people executed in the whole of 2010. Fifteen people were executed in May alone.
“The Saudi Arabian authorities must halt this disturbing pattern, which puts the country at odds with the worldwide trend against the death penalty,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Amnesty International is aware of over 100 prisoners, many of whom are foreign nationals, currently on death row. The Saudi authorities must immediately stop executions and commute all death sentences, with a view to abolishing the death penalty completely,” Luther added.