Hawzah News Agency - “Any execution is appalling, but seeking the death penalty for activists like Israa al-Ghomgham, who are not even accused of violent behavior, is monstrous,” Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East Director at HRW was quoted on Wednesday by Reuters as saying in a statement.

“Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against five human rights activists from the kingdom’s Eastern Province currently on trial in a secretive terrorism court,” the statement read.

“Among the detainees is Israa al-Ghomgham, whom Saudi activists said was the first woman to possibly face the death penalty for rights-related work. Charges against her include incitement to protest and providing moral support to rioters.”

Under various pretexts, including acting against national security and espionage, Saudi government has arrested and imprisoned a large number of human rights activists over the past few years.