Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:58am on 16 Oct 2026,Friday International
Saudi Arabia is facing renewed human rights criticism over the imminent execution of Youssef al-Manasif, who was arrested in 2017 for alleged offences linked to protests and funerals he attended between ages 15 and 17. His death sentence has reportedly been upheld by the Supreme Court. Rights group Reprieve alleges he was tortured, coerced into confessing and denied timely access to legal counsel. Critics say the case contradicts Saudi Arabia’s 2020 decree abolishing capital punishment for crimes committed by minors. Human rights organisations have urged authorities to halt his execution and respect international protections for children. (PC: AP)
