Saudi intensifies rights crackdown: Amnesty

Saudi Arabia has intensified a crackdown on dissidents and rights activists after a respite that coincided with the country's G20 presidency last year, Amnesty International said yesterday. Saudi authorities "have brazenly intensified the persecution of human rights defenders and dissidents and stepped up executions over the past six months, following a lull... during Saudi Arabia's G20 presidency," the rights group said in a statement. At least 13 people have been prosecuted, sentenced or had their sentences ratified "following grossly unfair trials before the Specialised Criminal Court", Amnesty said. It said recorded executions fell by 85 percent last year, but that "at least 40 people" were put to death between January and July this year, "more than during the whole of 2020".