A Challenge to the Conscience of Every Muslim
Why every Muslim? Because it is happening in the land of the Khademain Harmain Shareefain. A land every Muslim has an intense desire to visit, not once but again and again.
Nicholas Kristof has published an essay today, October 29, 2015 "Sentenced to be Crucified" in the opinion pages of The New York Times.
Let me quote the relevant parts of the article to save some time for you:
"Any day now, our Saudi Arabian allies may behead and crucify a young man named Ali al-Nimr.........Nimr’s offense? He was arrested at age 17 for participating in anti-government protests...... the only known evidence is a confession apparently extracted under torture that left him a bloody mess.......Nimr was recently moved to solitary confinement in preparation for execution..... In Britain, where the sentence has received attention, the foreign secretary says he does “not expect” it to be carried out. But Nimr’s family fears execution could come any day.......It’s time for a frank discussion about our ally Saudi Arabia and its role legitimizing fundamentalism and intolerance in the Islamic world. Western governments have tended to bite their tongues because they see Saudi Arabia as a pillar of stability in a turbulent region — but I’m not sure that’s right......... Sadly, Saudi Arabia is a gift to Islamophobes; it does far more damage to the reputation of Islam than any blaspheming cartoonists........Granted, many Saudis are pushing for reform. One bright young writer, Raif Badawi, 31, called eloquently for women’s rights, education reform and freedom of thought, and Saudi Arabia has sentenced him to 10 years in prison, a $267,000 fine and a flogging of 1,000 lashes (50 at a time, with one session administered so far). His wife, Ensaf Haidar, tells me that his flogging is to resume soon after a long suspension, and that she fears he will not survive the entire lashing........The United States government has largely averted its eyes from all this, at least in public, merely expressing deep concern about the crucifixion sentence even as it provides weaponry to enable the Saudi assault on Yemen."
The article gives a link if you want to add your signature for a petition in defense of Ali Al-Nimr. You will also see the innocent faces of Ali and his wife.
REPRIEVE, US has given more details about this case.
Some quotes from there: "He was accused of participation in an illegal demonstration and a large number of other offenses. These include “explaining how to give first aid to protestors” and using his blackberry to invite others to join him at the protest…….Ali was tortured and forced to sign a false confession. This was the only evidence brought against him. He was sentenced to ‘death by crucifixion,’ which in Saudi Arabia involves beheading and public display of the body……Ali’s final appeal was held in secret, without his knowledge. This was the last remaining legal obstacle to his execution, and now Ali can be crucified at any time……Ali was arrested without a warrant. He was held in pre-trial detention for two years, and at no point was he allowed to contact his lawyer. Ali was tortured and forced to sign false confession. Throughout his trial, Ali was denied access to the evidence against him. He was not even informed of the charges until half way through the proceedings. His forced confession was the only evidence brought against him. He was sentenced to ‘death by crucifixion’…….Ali’s final appeal was held in secret, without his knowledge. This was the last remaining legal obstacle to his execution, and now Ali can be crucified at any time. The authorities may not even give prior notification of his family. His execution would be illegal under international law."
