Nobel laureates urge Saudi king to halt execution of 14 protesters

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. File picture: Xinhua/Wang Bo

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. File picture: Xinhua/Wang Bo

Published Aug 11, 2017

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United Nations - Ten Nobel Peace Prize winners are appealing to Saudi Arabia's king and crown prince to show mercy and halt the executions of 14 young people sentenced to death for participating in protests in 2012.

In a letter released Friday, the laureates say the 14 minority Shi'a were convicted in a mass trial and sentenced "based on the actions of the worst defendant."

They also allege that Saudi authorities coerced confessions and subjected the arrested protesters to physical force.

Among those facing execution is Mujtaba al-Sweikat, who was heading to the United States to attend Western Michigan University.

The American Federation of Teachers has urged President Donald Trump to demand that Saudi Arabia halt the executions of al-Sweikat and the others.

AP

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