Saudi Arabia may behead disabled man; rights groups in worry

PanARMENIAN.Net - Saudi Arabia may behead a disabled man for allegedly taking part in protests, a UK human rights groups says, adding that he has been subjected to torture that has worsened his medical condition, RT reports.

Munir Adam, 23, was arrested during protests in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province back in 2012 when he was 18, a group of international lawyers and investigators based in the UK called Reprieve said in a statement.

The man has “hearing and visual impairments” that resulted from a childhood accident, the organization said.

"His medical records reportedly confirm the disability, and doctors warned that further trauma “could worsen his injuries.”

However, that apparently didn’t stop police from beating Munir so “badly” that “he lost all hearing in one ear,” Reprive said.

The Saudi Specialized Criminal Court reportedly sentenced the man to death. According to the group’s statement, he wasn’t allowed access to a lawyer and was forced to write his own defense.

Among the charges he faced was using his mobile phone to organize protests. However, according to the group, the man said he “had only signed statements under torture,” as he is from a poor family and has never had a mobile phone.