Saudi Arabia Sentences Poet to Death

On Tuesday, Amnesty International launched an urgent action appeal calling for Fayadh's release and denounced the Saudi court's refusal for the poet and artist's request for legal representation.

While criticism has come from outside Saudi Arabia, many have predicted that the executions may also trigger a Shia uprising from within the kingdom.

Fayadh is a member of Edge of Arabia, a British Saudi art organization, which on November 16 installed two murals at the United Nations as part of "Our Mother's House", an arts initiative run with Art Jameel in support of the women of southwest Saudi Arabia.

The threat has not prevented people from challenging the Saudi government, with many comparing similarities between the Kingdom and IS, also known as Isis or Isil.

According to the judge's ruling, he dismissed the testimony of the defense witnesses in the initial trial and ruled that Fayadh's repentance was not enough to avoid the death sentence.

Information from Amnesty International, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network and AVAAZ.

Three juvenille offenders - Ali al-Nimr - whose case sparked a global outcry earlier this year - Abdullah al-Zaher and Hussein al-Marhoon - are also said to be among those waiting to be executed.

Saudi Arabia may reduce energy and water subsidies for wealthy citizens, impose a value added tax (VAT) and taxes on unhealthy goods like cigarettes and sugary drinks, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was quoted as saying today.

Experts have struggled to explain what has caused the surge in executions over the past year. In addition to his appointment as Defence Minister, he serves as chief of the royal court, and chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs. Indeed, she says, there is only one unknown: when will Moscow and Tehran dispense with Asad, someone each has reasons to want to see gone?

In April, the interior ministry said a policeman died in a gunfight with "terrorists" in Awamiya. "They would not have been allowed to publish without the express permission of Mohammad bin Nayef".

"Beheading or otherwise executing dozens of people in a single day would mark a dizzying descent to yet another outrageous low for Saudi Arabia, whose authorities have continued to show stone-faced cynicism and even open defiance when authorities and ordinary people around the world question their sordid record on the use of the death penalty".

Amnesty said Nimr al-Nimr was among six Shiite activists at imminent risk of execution and who were "clearly convicted in unfair trials". Mr Faqih believes that Mohammad bin Nayef wants to claim there is no sectarian motive to the executions by including those convicted of belonging to Sunni terrorist organisations with the Shia.

"It's really up to the whim of judges in these cases", Coogle said.

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For now, though, his thoughts are with his kid brother. Both are understood to have been held in solitary confinement in Riyadh.