File photo of King Salman of Saudi Arabia with French PM Manuel Valls (Picture: REX Shutterstock)

More than 50 men are set to be beheaded over the next few days in Saudi Arabia.

According to Arabic newspaper Okaz, 55 men are facing execution after being convicted of ‘terrorism’ offences – although this is thought to include Shi’a protesters who took part in anti-government demonstrations.

Three of the condemned men are juveniles, including Ali al Nimr – whose case sparked an international outcry earlier this year. He was 17 when he was arrested and sentenced to crucifixion.

Baqer al Nimr, Ali’s brother, told the Independent: ‘Ali is a smart kid, he likes to play football, he is a photographer. He wasn’t political, he was just fighting for his rights – for the rights of the Shi’a.’




Ali’s uncle Sheikh Nimr al Nimr, a prominent Shi’a cleric who was arrested during a shootout with security forces in 2012, is also among those believed to be facing execution.

Ali al Nimr (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Last month the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said he did ‘not expect [Ali] al Nimr to be executed’, but Amnesty International has raised concerns about Ali’s fate after he was placed in solitary confinement at the beginning of October. He has been incommunicado since October 5.

‘Saudi Arabia’s macabre spike in executions this year, coupled with the secretive and arbitrary nature of court decisions and executions in the kingdom, leave us no option but to take these latest warning signs very seriously,’ James Lynch, Deputy Director of the MENA Programme at Amnesty International, said.

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‘Among those who are at imminent risk of execution are these six Shi’a Muslim activists who were clearly convicted in unfair trials. It is clear that the Saudi Arabian authorities are using the guise of counter-terrorism to settle political scores.

‘Three of those six activists were sentenced for ‘crimes’ committed while they were children and have said that they were tortured to confess. Given what we know about the deep flaws in the Saudi Arabian criminal justice system, we have serious concerns about the fairness of death penalty trials in the country.’

Shi’a protesters carry posters of Sheikh Nimr al Nimr during a demonstration outside the Saudi embassy in Sanaa, Yemen (Picture: Reuters)

Earlier this week the mothers of five of the six Shi’a activists wrote to King Salman, pleading with him to grant clemency. They did so after learning their sons were subjected to a ‘random’ medical examination – which they believe is a sign that they’ll be executed soon.

Saudi Arabia argues that death sentences are carried out in line with Sharia and with strict safeguards in place.