Saudi nationals executed

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has joined forces with Amnesty International to protest against the execution of three men in Saudi Arabia. It appears the men were executed solely on account of their homosexual conduct. The executions took place on 1 January 2002 in Abha, Asir province. At the time, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of the Interior issued a statement announcing that the three men were convicted of homosexual acts as well as luring children and harming others. Amnesty International has stated that it fears this action is a sign of the Saudi Arabian government’s determination to continue its appalling yearly rate of executions. According to its records, since 2000, at least 205 people have been executed, including many for non-violent offences. IGLHRC is concerned that these latest executions are only the latest incident in a pattern of human rights violations and abuse in Saudi Arabia. IGLHRC and Amnesty International have called upon people to register their concern that these men were executed primarily for their sexual orientation, and to demand a moratorium on the death penalty in Saudi Arabia as called for by the United Nations. For more information on sending appeals on this matter, go to www.iglhrc.org or amnesty.org.