Saudi Arabia Sentences 15 People to Death on Charges of 'Spying for Iran'

Saudi state media report that a court in the country has sentenced fifteen individuals to death on charges of espionage for Iran on Tuesday, December 7. According to Reuters, the special criminal court in Riyadh also sentenced another fifteen individuals to prison terms ranging from six months to 25 years, while two others were acquitted in the same case. Among the 32 individuals mentioned, thirty are Shia citizens of Saudi Arabia, while two others are an Iranian and an Afghan, all of whom were arrested in 2013 on charges of spying for the Islamic Republic of Iran, with their trial held in February of this year. The sentences issued for these individuals are still subject to appeal, and the death sentences for the fifteen mentioned are to be sent for confirmation to the Saudi king's office. Saudi media report that many of those sentenced in connection with this case were former employees of the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior. These individuals are accused of 'creating a spy ring, reporting sensitive military and security information to Iran, and intending to harm Saudi economic interests and the cohesion of Saudi society, as well as inciting sectarian conflict.' Other charges against these individuals include 'supporting protests in the Shia-majority Qatif region of Saudi Arabia, hiring others for espionage, sending encrypted reports to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence via email, and betraying the king.' According to AFP, some of these individuals are also accused of having met with Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Most of the detainees are from the Al-Ahsa region, including an elderly university professor, a pediatrician, a bank employee, and two clerics. The Qatif region in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia witnessed various protests by the Shia minority between 2011 and 2013, and the Saudi government blames Iran for inciting Shia protests in the area, an accusation that Iran denies. AFP reports that Human Rights Watch has described the trial of these 32 individuals as a 'mockery of justice,' stating that the court 'did not even adhere to the basic rights of the defendants in its proceedings.' The judicial proceedings for these 32 individuals began in February, a month after Riyadh severed diplomatic relations due to an attack by individuals on Saudi diplomatic buildings in Iran. Following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, a group referred to as 'rogue' caused damage to the Saudi embassy in Tehran after a protest. In this context, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the attack on the Saudi embassy is unjustifiable under any pretext. Saudi Arabia has also sentenced 14 individuals to death on terrorism charges. Human Rights Watch has criticized the trial of those accused of espionage for Iran in Saudi Arabia as a 'mockery of justice.' Al-Arabiya reported that 32 individuals in Saudi Arabia have been accused of spying for Iran. One person was reported killed in a shooting incident involving police in the village of Sheikh Nimr.