Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH - The Kingdom’s judicial system is just, fair and transparent, official spokesman of the Ministry of Justice reiterated on Friday.

In a statement, Sheikh Mansour Al-Qafari said all defendants facing trial in the Kingdom receive due process, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Al-Qafari said terrorism-related cases and death penalty verdicts are reviewed by an appeals court and the Supreme Court with a total of 13 judges reviewing the cases before executions are carried out.

The 14 convicts facing execution, he said, have been found guilty of terrorist crimes, including the killing of innocent civilians and the killing, targeting and assaulting of security men.

Al-Qafari stressed that all accused before the Saudi courts are entitled to fair trials fulfilling all standards, conditions and requirements, while also complying with all legal requirements in force in the Kingdom.

All death penalty verdicts in terrorism-related cases have to be reviewed with the involvement of 13 judges. Throughout the review procedure, the accused enjoy all judicial guarantees including the right to seek the assistance of defense lawyers of their choice, he said adding that the Ministry of Justice pays the lawyer’s fees if the accused is incapable of bearing his expenses. Also, he said, trial hearings are held in presence of the accused’s relatives, media representatives and officials of the Human Rights Commission. In cases where the accused are non-Saudis, representatives of their embassies are allowed to attend the trial proceedings, he said.

The court grants the accused sufficient time to prepare and submit their defense. Exemplary sentences are issued only in cases of the most heinous crimes including threat to society’s safety and security and representing a breach of human rights, dignity, and especially the right to life and security.