Prominent female activist faces being beheaded in Saudi Arabia

<em>The final decision to execute a female activist lies with Saudi Arabia ruler King Salman (Rex)</em>
The final decision to execute a female activist lies with Saudi Arabia ruler King Salman (Rex)

A prominent female activist faces being executed in Saudi Arabia, once again highlighting the country’s record on human rights.

Israa al-Ghomgham, who has demanded for an end to discrimination against Shia Muslims and a release of political prisoners, was sentenced to death at a hearing earlier in August.

The final decision for the execution, which is most likely to be carried out by beheading, rets with Saudi ruler King Salman.

<em>The kingdom gave a death sentence to Israa al-Ghomgham at a hearing in August (Rex)</em>
The kingdom gave a death sentence to Israa al-Ghomgham at a hearing in August (Rex)

The kingdom has executed women in the past but this marks the first time a woman would be killed for political activism.

Several sources suggested that al-Ghomgham has already been executed but Amnesty reporter Laurie Hanna said: ‘As far as we are aware Israa al-Ghomgham has not been executed yet.’

The exact date of the execution is not expected to be announced before al-Ghomgham’s sentencing review on 28 October.


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Al-Ghomgham was arrested during a house raid in 2015.

Amnesty International figures show nearly 150 people were executed in Saudi Arabia last year.