Saudi Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Scholar Abdul Aziz al-Tarifi
Public prosecutors in Saudi Arabia have reportedly sought the death penalty for prominent scholar and hadith expert Abdul Aziz al-Tarifi. The news was conveyed by the London-based human rights organisation ALQST regarding the condition of the scholar, who has been detained for more than a decade.
ALQST expressed deep concern over al-Tarifi’s case on Wednesday (26/8). The 50-year-old scholar is currently still being held at al-Ha’ir Prison in Riyadh and is reported to be in an isolation cell.
Nevertheless, the organisation noted that there is limited information regarding the latest legal procedures. ALQST has not been able to confirm with certainty whether prosecutors are still actively pursuing the execution at the current judicial stage.
As of the time this report was published, Saudi authorities had not issued an official statement to confirm or deny ALQST’s report regarding the death penalty demand.
Abdul Aziz al-Tarifi was arrested in April 2016. According to ALQST’s records, his detention was triggered by social media posts criticising the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television network and several government policies.
Al-Tarifi’s arrest was part of a broader wave of crackdowns on a number of religious figures in the kingdom. ALQST has raised al-Tarifi’s case as part of global concerns over the application of the death penalty and the prosecution of religious figures and government critics in Saudi Arabia.
In addition to al-Tarifi, ALQST highlighted the case of Saudi journalist Turki al-Jasser, whose execution was announced by local authorities after years of detention. Saudi authorities stated that al-Jasser was proven to have committed treason, espionage and terrorism financing. However, human rights organisations criticised the secrecy of the legal process and believe the prosecution was closely linked to his journalistic activities.
The organisation also highlighted ongoing legal cases against other prominent religious figures, such as Salman al-Awda and Hassan Farhan al-Maliki. Prosecutors are also reported to be seeking the death penalty against both.
Previously, death penalty demands were also filed by prosecutors against preachers Awad al-Qarni and Ali al-Omari. This adds to the growing list of public figures facing the maximum penalty under the kingdom’s judicial system.