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Saudi Arabia's ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Photo: BANDAR ALJALOUD HANDOUT/EPA
It was probably the largest mass execution in recent years: Despite Riyadh's promise to limit the use of the death penalty, 81 people were executed in Saudi Arabia in a single day over the weekend.
Now human rights activists are once again sharply criticizing the penal system there.
In a statement, Human Rights Watch accused the government of a "brutal demonstration of its autocratic power."
It was the largest mass execution in recent years, despite promises from Riyadh to limit the use of the death penalty.
The "shocking indifference" towards the convicted is also shown by the fact that in many cases relatives only found out about the executions in the media.
According to the human rights organization Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia's judicial system is handing down death sentences after "extremely and patently unfair procedures".
"Judgments are based on 'confessions' extracted under torture and other ill-treatment," said the organization's Middle East expert, Lynn Maalouf.
According to the Saudi Interior Ministry, the suspects were convicted of different crimes.
These included the murder of "innocent men, women and children" and membership in terrorist organizations such as the "Islamic State" (IS) or al-Qaeda.
Most of those executed were Saudis.
According to Human Rights Watch, 41 men were members of the Shia minority, which makes up about 12 percent of the population in Sunni Saudi Arabia.
According to critics, it is systematically disadvantaged, discriminated against and neglected by the authorities.
A total of 92 people have already been executed this year, Amnesty said.
At least 30 others face the same fate after death sentences have already been imposed.
British Prime Minister Johnson defends trip to Saudi Arabia
Last year, Amnesty International said executions had picked up again after a decline during the country's G20 presidency.
Between January and July 2021, 40 executions were carried out - after 27 the year before.
In 2019, the majority of the 37 people executed at the time also belonged to the Shiite minority, according to Amnesty.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has justified a trip to Saudi Arabia planned for Wednesday despite recent mass executions.
It is "essential" that the West breaks its dependency on fossil fuels from Russia, Johnson told journalists in London on Tuesday.
Otherwise there is a risk of extortion by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Johnson said.
He added, "That means we need to talk to other producers around the world about how to break that addiction."
When asked if that meant joining forces with other unwelcome governments, Johnson replied that the largest possible coalition must now be formed to respond to the events in Ukraine and the resulting rise in oil and gas prices.
A government spokesman stressed that Johnson would also address last Saturday's executions during his visit to Riyadh.
asc/dpa