Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh avoids execution in Riyadh. Sentenced to eight years and 800 lashes

A Saudi court had sentenced the Palestinian intellectual to death for apostasy. International mobilization for his acquittal. He always denied the charges, claiming his innocence. Meanwhile, executions continue at pace: yesterday two people executed, making the total so far this year 58.

 

Riyadh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A Saudi court has overturned the death penalty against the Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh, who had been sentenced for apostasy. He will have to serve eight years in prison and receive 800 lashes, in 16 separate sessions. The previous verdict had raised a wave of international protests; in recent weeks hundreds of writers, authors, intellectuals and artists launched initiatives for his release.

The Palestinian poet’s lawyer Abdul Rahman al-Lahim, reports that the court of Abha in the south-west of the country, has also decided that his client must sign a declaration of repentance, which will be published in the official media.

Fayadh, 35, has always vehemently denied the charges, claiming that another man fabricated false charges against. His defense is ready to submit a new appeal and apply for his release and full acquittal.

The poet of Palestinian origin - was born in Saudi Arabia to refugee parents - he was arrested in August of 2013, after a Saudi citizen accused him of fomenting atheism and spreading blasphemous ideas. He was released the next day, but arrested again in January 2014 and charged with apostasy.

Activists and international NGOs claim that the charges are related to his art and to his collection of poems - Instructions Within, published in 2008 - in which according to the indictment calls into question the dictates of religion and spread ideas related to atheism.

The Riyadh authorities have also indicted him for violating the law against online crime and of taking pictures of women in public with his cellphone. The death sentence dates back to 17 November 2015.

Saudi Arabia applies a strict vision of Islamic law, which provides for the death penalty for a wide range of crimes including murder, drug trafficking, armed robbery, rape and apostasy. Last year, the Executioner executed at least 153 people. This year executions seem to be increasing, given the fact that since 1 January a total of 58 people have been executed. The last two beheadings took place yesterday, the people executed were a Saudi citizen and an Ethiopian immigrant, sentenced to death for murder.

• Saudi Arabia
• executions
• sharia law
• human rights
• Palestinian poet