Saudi Arabia: Mothers of Shia youths endure 'terrible silence' after their children are condemned to death

Mothers endure a ‘terrible silence’ without knowing what will happen to sons locked up on death row in Saudi prisons

Bahrainis showing solidarity with the Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr (AFP/Getty Images)

For the mothers of six Shia youths condemned to death by beheading in Saudi Arabia, the “terrible silence” from the Sunni kingdom’s rulers over their sons’ fate continues. But for one family the pain of not knowing what will happen next has been cruelly heightened.

Abdullah al-Zaher was just 15 years old when he was arrested in 2011. His death sentence was confirmed in October under Saudi Arabia’s draconian anti-terror laws. The following month, Mr al-Zaher was transferred to a prison in the south of the kingdom.

For more than four weeks, his family heard nothing. They feared the worst – that he had been executed without their knowledge – especially as other families had continued to receive short weekly phone calls from their sons.

It was only this week, on 29 December, that they finally received a call from him. It lasted for barely two minutes but at least it told them he was still alive.

Mr al-Zaher’s mother, Fatima al-Ghazwe, said: “Abdullah’s situation was not clear because the call was so short and he can’t say anything.”

Yemeni protesters take part in a demonstration outside the Saudi embassy in Sanaa against the death sentence on Shiite cleric and anti-government protest leader Nimr al-Nimr (AFP/Getty Images)

She added that the Saudi authorities had still provided no explanation for Mr al-Zaher’s transfer, though it came shortly before The Independent reported a growing expectation of a planned simultaneous mass execution of more than 50 individuals, including the six youths, in late November. The state killings were said to have been planned to take place in several cities across the kingdom. Citing the fact that her family had not seen Mr al-Zaher for more than three months, his mother said: “Our situation is bad, we are always worried and we are always thinking what may happen.”

The other young death row detainees are being held in solitary confinement in Riyadh’s Al Ha’ir prison. Their sentences for alleged terrorist activities were also confirmed in October. The families maintain that the only crime committed by the young men was to be involved in pro-democracy protests, calling for equality in a country that routinely discriminates against its Shia minority.

Despite their fears, the families remain optimistic that a dramatic reversal of the decision to execute the six men may come. In a letter sent to The Independent, the mothers of the six, together with the mother of a prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, also sentenced to death, wrote this week that, as 2016 begins, “our children will have spent nearly four years behind bars”.

The letter said: “They will have spent nearly 90 days in solitary confinement after the court affirmed the final verdict. They could be beheaded at any moment. Their bodies have become weak. They have all suffered due to anxiety, loneliness and anticipation of an unknown fate.”

The mothers wrote of their anguish at being deprived of their loved ones and of their deep anxiety for their sons’ well-being, “especially during the holiday season where families gather”. But they added that international interest in the case in recent weeks has “motivated many people around the world to join our cause, and successfully helped the cases to reach the highest levels”.

Despite the lack of official Saudi comment, the mothers told The Independent: “We are sure that your support has a deep impact and could indeed help save our children from death.” They say that confessions were extracted under torture, that the accused have been denied legal counsel and that the trial judges were clearly biased towards the prosecution.

The Saudi government denies those claims, but independent observers and international human rights organisations have strongly argued that the process that led to the convictions and resulted in the death penalties was deeply flawed. The mothers said their sons were, in peacefully protesting, merely exercising a “fundamental and legitimate right in the modern world”.

Nosra al-Ahmad, the mother of Ali al-Nimr – who, like Mr al-Zaher, was a juvenile at the time of his arrest – told The Independent she had received no indication from Saudi authorities that the death sentence might be commuted. Their lack of response was, she said, “a terrible silence”.

She said that her son had lost weight and that “instead of waiting for a beautiful future, he awaits in panic and fear”. She added: “I am his mother and my heart is broken, again and again.”

Last year, the Saudi authorities carried out 153 beheadings, the most recent of a Filipino convicted of murder and executed after his relatives were unable to raise $1m (£680,000) in so-called “blood money” demanded by the family of the victim. In 2014, there were 90 executions, a number that placed the kingdom third in the world behind only China and Iran. Amnesty International has described an “unprecedented wave of executions, marking a grim new milestone in the Saudi Arabian authorities’ use of the death penalty”.

Meanwhile, there is increasing criticism of its human rights record, partly triggered a year ago by the flogging of liberal blogger Raif Badawi, who was convicted of insulting Islam.

The fact that, thus far, no one has been executed for the same terrorism offences as the six men gives their families a slender hope that their loved ones may yet be spared. “We are wanderers between fear and hope,” Nosra al-Ahmad told The Independent. “And we are waiting for this tragic situation to change, and to be released from this injustice.”

Mothers’ thanks: A New Year message

During the global holiday season, where the world is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and the Prophet Mohamed, peace be upon them, we, the mothers of young Saudi detainees and human rights defenders who are sentenced to death, wish you a happy, peaceful and restful holiday and thank you for your support with our children, by way of word, voice or solidarity.

Your solidarity and interest has motivated many people around the world to join our cause, and successfully helped the cases to reach the highest levels. Despite the official silence, which deepens our concern for our children, we are sure that your support has a deep impact and could indeed help save our children from death.

Our children have been deprived of their most basic rights, such as to enjoy a normal life with their loving families, and have spent years of their childhood behind bars. Their right to life could be taken away at any moment, as they face the death penalty based on a forced confession and charges associated with demonstrating, which is not a crime, but a fundamental and legitimate right in the modern world.

In addition, the mother of human rights defender Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a man who is also on death row, would also like to extend her deepest gratitude to you for raising these important cases of the death-row protesters and for her son. This hope enlightens the cause in all parts of the world, which, in turn, could urge authorities to review this unjust verdict that violates all fair international laws.

By the New Year, our children will have spent nearly four years of their childhood behind the bars. By the joyous New Year, they have almost spent more than 90 days in solitary confinement after the court affirmed the final verdict. They could be beheaded at any moment; they are waiting until their bodies have become weak; they have all suffered weight loss due to anxiety, loneliness and anticipation of an unknown fate.

Your solidarity, support and your demand to halt the death penalty ... has given us, the mothers, a ray of hope that we will be reunited with our children in the coming years and holidays to come.

Nosra al-Ahmad, the mother of Ali al-Nimr

Naima al-Matrook, the mother of Mohammed al-Sheikh

Amena al-Safar, the mother of Dawoud al-Marhon

Fatima al-Ghazwe, the mother of Abdullah al-Zaher

Zahra al-Rebh, the mother of Ali al-Rebh

Fatimah al-Mohassan, the mother of Mohammad al-Suwaimil

Fatimah al-Faraj, the mother of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr