Key facts
- Youssef al-Manasif faces imminent execution in Saudi Arabia.
- He was arrested in 2017 for attending protests and funerals as a minor.
- Manasif was convicted of crimes including joining demonstrations for religious freedom.
- Human rights groups allege he was tortured and coerced into signing a false confession.
- His death sentence has reportedly been upheld by the Saudi supreme court.
A young man, Youssef al-Manasif, faces imminent execution in Saudi Arabia for attending protests and funerals when he was between 15 and 17 years old, according to human rights groups. He was arrested in 2017 and accused of crimes including joining demonstrations for religious freedom by the Shia minority. The charity Reprieve states that Manasif was tortured and coerced into signing a false confession, and only met his state-appointed lawyer in 2022. His death sentence has reportedly been upheld by the Saudi supreme court. Saudi Arabia has seen a significant increase in executions under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with 356 people put to death last year, many for non-violent drug crimes. Activists note that at least 17 individuals have been executed since 2015 for offenses committed as minors, despite a 2020 royal decree abolishing the death penalty for children.