PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 23/038/2007

24 October 2007

Further Information on UA 272/07 (MDE 23/036/2007, 23 October 2007) Imminent Execution

SAUDI ARABIA Hadi ‘Ali Suliaman al-Yami (m)

According to a statement by the Ministry of Interior, Hadi ‘Ali Suliaman al-Yami was executed in Najran on 24 October. He was originally sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for helping a man escape from prison, but his sentence was said to have been changed unexpectedly to death, possibly following a secret appeal process.

This execution appears to be the first execution in Saudi Arabia since the end of the holy month ofRamadan, during which Saudi Arabia imposes a moratorium on execution. Hadi ‘Ali Suliaman al-Yami was executed despite local and international appeals to spare his life.

No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all those who sent appeals.