Saudi’s Supreme Court in Riyadh confirmed death penalty for 14 activists from Qatif over taking part in protests in 2011.

Human rights sources reported that the suspects were not able even to appoint a lawyer, noting that all their confessions were under torture and abuse.

To be implemented, the execution warrant must be approved by the Saudi king, Salman Bin Abdulaziz.

Families of the suspects say their sons attended confidential trials, stressing that the sentences were based on force confessions.

Peaceful demonstrations erupted in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province in February 2011, with protesters demanding reforms, freedom of expression, the release of political prisoners and an end to widespread discrimination against people of the oil-rich region. Several people have been killed and many others have been injured or arrested during the demonstrations.

International rights bodies, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly criticized Saudi Arabia for its grim human rights record, arguing that the number of executions in oil-rich country has dramatically risen in the last years.

Source: Websites