UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet “strongly condemned the beheading of 37 men” in Saudi Arabia, said spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric during a press conference in New York City on Wednesday.
“The High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today strongly condemned the beheading of 37 men, in spite of repeated appeals by the UN Human Rights system about the lack of due process and fair trail guarantees, allegations that confessions were obtained through torture, and the age of some of those executed,” said Dujarric.
“Ms. Bachelet appealed to the authorities to halt the pending executions and to engage constructively with the UN Human Rights Office and independent experts on the many concerns related to the imposition of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia,” Dujarric continued.
On Tuesday Saudi Arabia’s official news agency confirmed that the Kingdom executed 37 men, three of whom were minors at the time of sentencing according to Dujarric, convicted of terror-related crimes.
According to reports, one prisoner was crucified.