The situation
The plot thickens in Saudi Arabia as human rights groups warn of the imminent execution of Youssef al-Manasif. He was arrested in 2017 and hit with a death sentence by a secretive tribunal known as the specialised criminal court. His crime? According to the state, he attended protests and funerals during his youth—specifically when he was between 15 and 17 years old.
The background
Real talk: this is giving major red flags. The charity Reprieve claims Manasif was tortured into signing a false confession. Even worse, he didn't even get to meet his lawyer until 2022, a full five years after he was taken into custody. While the Saudi supreme court has reportedly upheld the sentence, advocates say it’s a gross violation of international norms.
It’s lowkey devastating because Saudi Arabia actually issued a royal decree back in 2020 aiming to abolish the death penalty for minors. But the vibes are off; since that decree, the state has still moved forward with capital punishment in several cases involving defendants who were children at the time of their alleged offenses.
Why it matters
Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country has seen a massive surge in the use of the death penalty, with a record 356 people executed last year alone. Experts at the UN and groups like Human Rights Watch are calling for an immediate halt, noting that the regime is essentially using these executions to flex its power. This isn't just a legal case; it’s a chilling reminder of how dangerous things can get when there's zero accountability.
