Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammad bin Salman arrives at 10 Downing Street in October last year. Once seen as reformer, he has faced criticism for his brutal crackdown on dissidents including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Joining protests as a child, Saudi teenager could face execution

Murtaja Qureiris got arrested when he was 13 and could face execution, Amnesty International said, for taking part in Shia-led protests as a child. He was arrested by border authorities as he traveled to Bahrain with his family after he took part in a bike ride protest 3 years earlier during the 2011 Arab Spring.

Queries is now 18 and is on trial for charges from joining a “terror group” and “sowing sedition”. He is seen shouting “the people want human rights” in a video during the demonstration which took place in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. However, Saudi Arabia has not commented nor made a public announcement of the case.

In the last four years, Qureiris has spent his time in pre-trial detention and 15 months of that time was in solitary confinement. He was accused of making Molotov for his brother who was killed in a demonstration when Qureiris was 11.

In Saudi Arabia, minors cannot be put to death, however, the government plans to carry out the execution. The kingdom has executed at least three prisoners for crimes they committed before the age of 18.

The three prisoners, including 37 men were beheaded in April. One of them was crucified after death which Mr. Quereiris also faces.

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/06/08/saudi-teenager-faces-execution-taking-part-anti-government-protests/