In a pressing appeal, UN human rights experts have urgently demanded that Saudi Arabia cease the execution of individuals convicted for crimes committed as minors. This call follows the controversial execution of Jalal al-Labbad, who was only 21 at the time of his death but was arrested at 16 for participating in protests.

Labbad's arrest in February 2017 involved no warrant and was marked by allegations of severe human rights violations, including physical torture and prolonged solitary confinement. His trial, which eventually led to a death sentence, lacked fundamental legal rights such as access to a lawyer, raising international alarm over the fairness and justice of the proceedings.

The execution took a grim turn as Labbad’s family reportedly discovered his death via social media rather than through any official notification, a move that has sparked further outrage among human rights advocates. The UN experts have also called for the return of Labbad’s body to his family for an independent autopsy, in alignment with international standards.

Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s commitment as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the experts reminded the kingdom of its legal obligations to refrain from executing anyone for offences committed as a minor. They also referenced the Convention against Torture, emphasizing the prohibition of capital punishment stemming from coerced confessions or trials that lack fairness and transparency.

Reports from the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights detail Labbad's deteriorating health during his detention, including chronic physical ailments exacerbated by the alleged torture.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of human rights criticisms directed at Saudi Arabia this year, ranging from its rising application of the death penalty, particularly for non-violent crimes like drug offenses, to accusations of human trafficking and the mistreatment of foreign workers and older prisoners.

The international community, led by bodies like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, continues to challenge Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, especially its treatment of minors and the conditions leading to their trials and sentences. The urgency of these appeals reflects a growing consensus on the need for substantial reforms in the kingdom’s judicial and human rights practices.