Pen open letter to King Salman and son Crown Prince

Ten Nobel laureates from across the world have penned an open letter urging Saudi authorities to hold off on the execution of 14 Shias convicted of protest-linked crimes.

Fears are mounting of the imminent mass execution of the 14 Shias convicted of charges linked to protests in 2012, including rioting, theft, armed robbery and armed rebellion.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused Saudi authorities of coercing confessions, which were later retracted in court and of failing to grant fair trials to defendants, including juveniles.

Signed by anti-apartheid leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Yemeni activist Tawakkul Karman, Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi and former East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta, the letter released late on Friday urged King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, his son, to “extend the hand of mercy” and refrain from ratifying the death sentences.

Satyarthi a signatory

Other signatories include U.S. anti-landmine activist Jody Williams, Indian children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, South African former President F.W. De Klerk, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, Polish labour rights activist Lech Walesa and peace activist Mairead Maguire of Northern Ireland.

Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s highest rates of execution. This year alone, it has so far executed 75 people.