Last week, Saudi Arabia started the new year by executing 47 people, including a prominent Shiite cleric. Many of the prisoners were executed for non-violent crimes, or convicted with confessions obtained by torture.
Despite the recent string of executions and other questionable human rights policies in the past, Saudi Arabia is still the chairman of the UN’s Human Rights Council.
A series of cartoons that pointed out the absurdity of the situation went viral after the New Year’s executions.
Cartoon of the Day: Does it Makes Any Sense to Have Saudi Arabia as Head of @UN Human Rights Council? pic.twitter.com/2gWi24RMgO
— Carlos Latuff (@LatuffCartoons) January 3, 2016
The UN’s top human rights official, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, criticized the executions, particularly that of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr for anti-government activity. Al-Hussein said that the executions were “a very disturbing development indeed, particularly as some of those sentenced to death were accused of non-violent crimes.”
Al-Hussein went on to say that international law only permits the death penalty for the most serious types of crimes, such as murder.
#Saudi Arabia as HEAD of the UN Chair of Human Rights panel pic.twitter.com/SkSXV2TRZj
— The Power Of One. (@france7776) January 2, 2016
The UN’s human rights website says that the council “takes into account the candidate states’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights.” Despite Saudi Arabia’s constant violations, such as a record high number of beheadings last year, they remain the chair of the council.
Last year, The Guardian leaked documents that suggested that the UK and Saudi Arabia engaged in a vote-trading deal to assure that they were both on the council. Many of the cartoonists drew parallels between the brutality of Saudi Arabia and ISIS.
ISIS vs Saudi Arabia.. Note: Hillary Clinton accepts millions of dollars in donations from Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/8LQSuPglUw
— Nat Shupe (@NatShupe) December 28, 2015
“Regardless of the crimes allegedly committed, executing prisoners in mass only further stains Saudi Arabia’s troubling human rights record,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Human Rights Watch’s Middle East director.
Difference between ISIS and Saudi Arabia? @LabourEoin pic.twitter.com/l1xTVk8hmF
— Dr Kailash Chand OBE (@KailashChandOBE) January 3, 2016
[The Independent] Featured image via Flickr
