SHAFAQNA -Â France has expressed concern over the fate of a young Saudi man sentenced to death over his alleged role in anti-regime protests in the kingdom, urging Riyadh to cancel his execution.Â
“France is concerned by the situation of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, who was sentenced to death even though he was a minor at the time of the events,†French Foreign Ministry spokesman, Romain Nadal, said in a statement released on Wednesday, adding, “Opposed to the death penalty in all cases and circumstances, we call for the execution to be called off.â€Â
The youth is the nephew of prominent Saudi Shia cleric Ayatollah Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, who has been sentenced to death on charges of disturbing state security, making anti-government speeches, and defending political prisoners.Â
The statement came one day after a group of human rights experts affiliated with the United Nations called on the Al Saud regime to halt Nimr’s “imminent execution.â€Â
The rights experts argued that the Saudi teenager did not receive a “fair trial†while his lawyer did not have access to the case file.Â
Nimr was arrested during an anti-government protest in the Qatif region, Eastern Province, back in 2012 when he was only 17 years old. He was later convicted of alleged criminal activities and handed down a death penalty by Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court in May 2015.