Saudi Arabia executes 5 young Shia men over trumped-up terror charges

Saudi authorities have executed five young men from Qatif region in the kingdom’s oil-rich and Shia-populated Eastern Province over trumped-up terror allegations.

Saudi authorities executed five young men from Qatif region in the kingdom’s Shia-populated Eastern Province on October 17, 2026 over trumped-up terror allegations. (Photo via social media)

Saudi authorities have executed five young men from the Shia-populated Qatif region over trumped-up allegations of involvement in terrorist activities, as part of a heavy-handed crackdown led by the Saudi royal family against political dissidents.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced in a statement that the death sentences were carried out on Saturday after the five citizens were convicted of committing “terrorist crimes.”

The ministry stated that the crimes “consisted of joining a foreign terrorist organization, firing at security forces, security headquarters, and security vehicles using weapons and bombs, possessing weapons and live ammunition, and providing support to finance and carry out terrorist operations within the kingdom.”

Opposition sources identified the executed young men from Qatif as Mohammed bin Munir al-Zahir, Ali bin Abdul Hussein al-Sheikh, Hassan bin Zaki al-Faraj, Reda bin Mohammed Al Bu Abdullah, and Ali bin Hassan Al Rabah, who had spent several years behind bars.

Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich and predominantly Shia Eastern Province has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011.

Protesters demand reforms, freedom of expression, the release of political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination against the region.

The protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown, with Saudi forces increasing security measures across the province.

Ever since Mohammed bin Salman became Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader in 2017, the kingdom has ramped up arrests of activists, bloggers, intellectuals, and others perceived as political opponents.

It shows almost zero tolerance for dissent, even in the face of international condemnation of the crackdown.

Muslim scholars have been executed and women’s rights campaigners have been put behind bars and tortured as freedoms of expression, association, and belief continue to be denied.

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