Top Saudi court hands down death sentence to Shia activist from Qatif

On Monday, the Riyadh-based tribunal found Ali Al Rabie guilty in a “sham hearing” that fell short of international fair trial standards, London-based and Arabic-language Nabaa television news network reported.
 
The report came as Saudi authorities executed two of Ali’s brothers, Ahmad and Hossein, on April 23 over their political activism.
 
Regime forces killed Ali's younger brother, Thamer, when they raided al-Awamiyah town situated in the al-Qatif region of Eastern Province.
 
Eastern Province has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011. Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression, the release of political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination against the oil-rich region.
 
The protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown by the regime, with regime forces increasing security measures across the province.
 
Informed sources, requesting anonymity, said on July 15 that a young Saudi man died more than a week after being injured by regime forces when they raided a district in the province.
 
Majid Abdullah al-Adam died ten days after regime forces, armed with heavy weapons and artillery launchers, stormed into the al-Jash district of Qatif onboard armored vehicles.
 
The sources added that the forces fired indiscriminately, inflicting damage on many houses and buildings. Adam suffered critical injuries during the raid.
 
Saudi regime agents also arrested Muslim preacher Ibrahim Issa al-Ismail at the time.