The Saudi Arabian authorities have intensified their crackdown on dissent as manifested by the public prosecution’s recent calls for the execution of religious clerics and protesters who are on trial before the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC), the country’s counter-terrorism court. Next week, six individuals are scheduled to appear before the SCC for trial sessions, and may be at risk of being sentenced to death for charges related to exercising their peaceful rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. This includes prominent religious cleric Sheikh Salman al-Awda and activist Israa al-Ghomgham.
