Saudi Arabia sentences three men who opposed NEOM megacity to death
Saudi Arabia sentences three men who opposed NEOM megacity to death
One of the men sentenced is the brother of Abdul Rahim al-Howeiti, who was reportedly shot dead after campaigning against evictions of residents from land earmarked for the NEOM project.
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The NEOM megacity project, currently under construction in northwestern Saudi Arabia, is scheduled for completion in 2025 [Getty]
A Saudi rights group has condemned their country'sÌýjudiciary for giving death sentences to three men who opposed evictions from land where the is being built.
The three men sentenced to death last Sunday, all from theÌýal-Howeiti tribe, were detained in 2020 for opposing the evictions in northwestern to make way for theÌý$500 billion project,Ìýhuman rights organisation ALQST Ìý°Õ³ó³Ü°ù²õ»å²¹²â.
"We condemn the sentences and call for their immediate and unconditional release," ALQST Ìýof the sentencing of the three men.
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One of the condemned men, Shadli al-Howeiti, is the brother of , an outspoken critic of the NEOM project reportedly shot dead by Saudi forces after refusing to vacate his home in 2020.
The rights group previously that Shadli al-Howeiti had begun a hunger strike in May to protest his ill-treatment and placementÌýin solitary confinement.
The NEOM megaprojectÌýis being funded by the Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle, the Public Investment Fund.
Most of the ambitious scheme isÌýmeant to be completed by 2025, as per the timelineÌýset byÌýSaudi Vision 2030 - Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman'sÌýfar-fetched plan to wean the Saudi economy off of oil by the end of this decade.
However, the project has raised a host of concerns over the displacement of the area's residents, as well as the harmful impact it could have on local flora and fauna.
The Saudi kingdom severely punishes citizens who dare to express public criticism of the government.
It was awarded theÌý last week, drawing fresh criticism from opponents who say Riyadh uses cultural and sporting events to whitewash its human rights abuses.
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