Saudi Arabia sentences the political dissident al-Nemerto death for exercising internationally preserved rights After a trial spanning more than560 days that lacked international standards for fair trials and proceduresmarred with many irregularities, on Wednesday, 15 October 2014, Saudi judiciarysentenced the political dissident Sheikh Nemer Baqir al-Nemer to death. Thisconstitutes a flagrant violation of Article III of the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights: (Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person). It comes after the Saudiprosecution charged al-Nemer with dozens of charges, including defendingprisoners of conscience and those arbitrarily named in the Ministry ofInterior's list, protesting and having different political views than the Saudigovernment. These charges are in violation of international laws that considersthem legitimate human rights. As international human rightsorganizations, we condemn the sentencing of Sheikh Nemer al-Nemer. We believehe was targeted for advocating for human rights and talking publicly aboutviolations, in the course of the deteriorated human rights situation in the KSAwhich is getting even worse. It has become clear that advocating for humanrights is a punishable crime in Saudi Arabia, with the ongoing systematictargeting of human rights defenders, journalists, activists and politicalopponents. We call on the Government of theKSA to drop the illegal verdict and all charges against him, which are inviolation to freedom of expression and legally guaranteed rights. Also, we holdSaudi responsible of his physical integrity, as there still is a bullet in hisleft thigh as a result of excessive use of force during his arrest on 8 July2012 resulting in disability of the leg. We demand launching an investigationinto the incident of shooting and torturing him in our commitment to endimpunity. We call on the KSA government as amember in the elected human rights council 2014 – 2016 to adhere to thevoluntarily obligations and commitments that it presented to the UN humanrights council which is in grave violation of the sentence. BAHRAINCENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ALQSTAdvocating for Human Rights DEWANY.Civil Office of the Ombudsman BahrainSalam for Human Rights LualuaCentre for Human Rights KhiamRehabilitation Center for victims of torture AMAN NETWORKFor Rehabilitation and Defending Human Rights Gulf CivilSociety Associations Forum European-BahrainiOrganization for Human Rights Monitor ofHuman Rights in Saudi Arabia BahrainForum for Human Rights TheInternational Center for Supporting Rights and Freedoms BahrainHuman Rights Observatory Yemen Centerfor Human Rights AL-KHOEIFOUNDATION EuropeanSaudi Organization for Human Rights |