Extra Bio Info:

Abdullah al-Zaher was imprisoned for his religious identity and for protesting religious discrimination.

In March 2012, authorities detained al-Zaher, 15 years old at the time, for participating in protests against Shi'a discrimination in the Eastern Province. According to Human Rights Watch, al-Zaher was held in pre-trial detention for 22 months without being charged.  He was also denied access to a lawyer before and during his trial. 

When al-Zaher was finally charged, he was accused of "'participating in marches and gatherings...and chanting slogans against the state,' throwing Molotov cocktails at police patrols," and "concealing men wanted by security forces."

In October 2014, the Specialized Criminal Court convicted al-Zaher of all charges and sentenced him to death. The main pieces of evidence indicating his supposed guilt were the arrest report and a confession that he was reportedly coerced into signing. The court failed to investigate his torture allegations. 

Al-Zaher's sentence was upheld in October 2015.

In November 2020, al-Zaher's sentence was commuted to ten years in prison.

On November 14, 2021, al-Zaher was released. 

Extra Bio Info:

Dawood al-Marhoun was imprisoned for his religious identity and for protesting religious discrimination.

On May 21, 2012, authorities arrested al-Marhoun, who was 17 years old at the time, for participating in protests against Shi'a discrimination in the Eastern Province. According to one of his family members, al-Marhoun spent roughly a year and a half in pre-trial detention without ever being charged. He was also reportedly held incommunicado several times during his detention and was denied access to a lawyer.

When al-Marhoun was finally charged, he was accused of "'participating in marches and gatherings...and chanting slogans against the state,' throwing Molotov cocktails at police patrols...attacking the Awamiya police station, burglarizing a pharmacy to steal medical supplies to treat wounded protesters, and supporting protesters by 'buying water and distributing it to them.'"

In October 2014, the Specialized Criminal Court convicted al-Marhoun of all charges and sentenced him to death. The main evidence indicating his supposed guilt was a confession that he was reportedly coerced into signing. The court failed to investigate his torture allegations.

Al-Marhoun's sentence was upheld in October 2015.

In November 2020, al-Marhoun's sentence was commuted to ten years in prison.

On February 2, 2022, it was reported that al-Marhoun had been released.

Extra Bio Info:

Ali al-Nimr was imprisoned for his religious identity and for protesting religious discrimination.

In July 2012, authorities detained Al-Nimr, the nephew of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, for participating in protests against Shia discrimination in the Eastern Province. Despite only being 17 years old at the time of his arrest, authorities did not allow his parents to visit him in detention until four months later.  

Al-Nimr's case was handled by the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC), which committed several due process violations.  It reportedly held three hearings before allowing al-Nimr to have a lawyer who was then prevented from ever meeting with his client during the trial. 

In May 2014, the SCC sentenced al-Nimr to death. According to Human Rights Watch, he was convicted of “breaking allegiance with the ruler,” “going out to a number of marches, demonstrations, and gatherings against the state and repeating some chants against the state,” and inciting demonstrations via the internet. He was also convicted of "attacking police with Molotov cocktails and rocks, concealing men wanted by police, and helping the wanted men avoid police raids." No evidence was reportedly provided by prosecutors indicating police harm or injury. Al-Nimr reportedly told the court that he had been tortured into confessing.  However, it failed to investigate these allegations.

On February 8, 2021, the Saudi Human Rights Commission announced that al-Nimr's sentence had been commuted to ten years in prison. 

On October 27, 2021, it was reported that al-Nimr was released from prison.