Executions in Saudi Arabia
Date: 16 March 2022 Tags: MiscellaneousIssue
Saudi Arabia recently executed 81 people in one of the largest mass executions in the middle-eastern kingdom.
Background
The executed people included those convicted of murders, members of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. They were Yemeni, Syrian and Saudi nationals.
Details
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Following the execution, Iran has suspended all talks with Saudi Arabia. The reason for suspension is not known.
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The talks were held between arch regional rivals in the capital of Iraq, Baghdad.
Executions in Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia is one of the countries with highest numbers of executions in the world, along with China, Iraq, Vietnam and Iran.
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It has so far carried out more than 800 executions. Saudi Arabia has been criticized for its actions against dissent and poor human rights record.
Executed group
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The executed people were convicted of capital crimes such as murdering innocent people, and pledging allegiance to terrorist organisations including ISIS, al-Qaeda and the Houthis.
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Others were convicted of kidnapping, torture, rape, smuggling arms and bombs into Saudi Arabia.
Iran-Saudi divide
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Iran and Saudi relations have been sour since many years. The major reason is due to difference in religious ideology.
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Iran has a majority of Shia Muslims whereas Saudi is home to Sunni Muslims. Middle-eastern nations look up to Saudi or Iran depending upon the allegiance of their Muslim population.
Degrading relations
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The modern degradation started after the Iranian revolution. Saudi till then considered itself to be the de-facto leader of Muslim world, which changed after emergence of Islamic state in Iran.
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The invasion of Iran by Iraq led to the Gulf war, where Saudi supported Iraq as it was led by Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim.
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Following US invasion of Iraq and subsequent removal of Saddam Hussein, the Shia majority managed to capture power in Iraq.
The final nail
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Saudi supported pro-democracy protests against Shia dictator Bashar Al-Assad in Syria, whereas Iran wanted him to continue.
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In Bahrain, Iran supported pro-democracy protests by the Shia majority against the Sunni ruler. Saudi Arabia sent military to quell protests.
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Saudi Arabia executed a Shiite cleric of the country, which led to attacks on its embassy in Iran forcing it to severe all diplomatic ties in 2016.