Saudi authorities have executed a man on terrorism charges, rejecting objections from "human rights" advocates who claimed he was convicted for crimes committed as a minor, AFP reported on Thursday.
Saudi state news agency SPA reported, "The death sentence was carried out against Jalal bin Hassan bin Abdul Karim Labbad, a Saudi national, in the Eastern Province."
Labbad was convicted of "terrorist crimes," including joining a foreign terrorist organization. According to SPA, he was found guilty of killing a judge in the Qatif governorate and firing explosives at security forces with the intent to kill.
Labbad was one of several individuals sentenced to death for offenses committed when they were under 18 years old.
In October 2023, Amnesty International stated that the Saudi supreme court secretly upheld the death sentence for Labbad, a member of the kingdom's Shiite minority. He was sentenced on terrorism charges with eight others, including Abdullah al-Derazi, who was also a minor at the time, for their involvement in anti-government protests in 2011.
In May, UN experts called for the release of Labbad and four others convicted for offenses committed when they were minors.
Saudi Arabia has long faced international criticism for its frequent use of the death penalty. Rights groups argue that such practices clash with efforts to improve its global image and attract tourists and investors.
The kingdom has carried out at least 250 executions this year and is on pace to exceed the 338 executions from last year, according to AFP.