REPORTAGE
In Saudi Arabia, well-known activist Israa al-Ghomgham I likely to be executed despite the fact that she led peaceful protests for the right of the Shiite minority. This is being condemned throughout the globe.
The New Leam Staff
In a shocking revelation what came to the attention of the world media was the oppressive practices against women in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is known to have the highest execution rates in the world and here beheading is the most often used method of execution. What shocked the world once more was the recent decision of the Saudi state to execute a female human rights activist.
This rare step of seeking a death penalty for 29 year old female activist accused of encouraging campaigns against human rights violation and greater rights for the Shiite minority has led to a debate about the gender inequality that is still rampant in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman has been known to promote a more emancipatory and liberal image of his state before the international community but his decision to execute a woman for raising political dissent is facing criticism from around the world.
The Saudi Prince is also facing criticism as a liberal and eased out image of Saudi Arabia is been projected in the world but a lot of inconsistencies prevail in the way the country is running internally. Saudi Arabia has executed many women in the past; the Shiite convicts have been given the death punishment as well.
But the decision to give death penalty to a woman for non-violent protests has been condemned throughout the world. Saudi Arabia recently arrested several women activists as they were demanding their right to drive. The arrests of the female activist were done because they appeared a if they were a movement against the crown prince whereas the order of the state was to project the right to drive to women as a gift by the monarch to the women.
Ms. Ghomgham, has been arrested for her sustained initiatives in fighting for the rights of the Shiite minority. She has been in jail since 2015 and is now likely to face execution.
