UN human rights experts released a statement Friday demanding that Saudi Arabia immediately halt executions of people convicted of offenses committed as minors, following the execution of Jalal al-Labbad last month.

Labbad was 21 years old when he was arrested without a warrant by Saudi authorities in February 2017 for his participation in protests in 2011 and 2012 against the state’s treatment of Shi’a citizens. Labbad was a minor at the time of the alleged offences. He was detained for around ten months, during which he was physically tortured and was in solitary confinement for over nine months. Labbad appeared before a Saudi criminal court in 2019, denied the right to legal counsel, and was sentenced to death three years later.

“We are dismayed by the execution of Mr. Jalal al-Labbad on 21 August, despite our grave concerns repeatedly communicated to the authorities,” the experts said. “It is particularly disturbing that his family was not informed of the execution date and reportedly learned of his death through social media. We call on authorities to immediately return Mr. al-Labbad’s body to his relatives and permit an independent medico-legal examination [in line with international standards].” The experts called on Saudi authorities to “commute all death sentences imposed for offences committed by children, and ensure retrials, where necessary, that fully meet international fair-trial standards.”

The experts stressed that Saudi Arabia is a State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), requiring it under article 37(a) to refrain from carrying out executions for offences committed by people below 18 years of age. It also evoked the Convention against Torture‘s prohibition on death sentences resulting from unfair trials, coerced confessions, or discrimination against religious minorities.

Labbad was hospitalized multiple times for suffering from frequent fainting, a weak heartbeat, and low blood pressure. The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights reported that he had developed an inability to sleep without pills due to severe pain from physical abuse in detention. Moreover, he suffers from persistent swelling in his right thigh (which contains metal pins)… loss of focus, and persistent forgetfulness, as he repeats the same words several times.”

Saudi Arabia has faced frequent criticism from human rights organizations this year for its use of the death penalty and other abuses, such as mistreatment of elderly prisoners and human trafficking of foreign workers. Last month, Human Rights Watch and Middle East Democracy Center raised alarm over its increased use of the death penalty this year to silence critics. Amnesty International voiced concern for Saudi Arabia’s escalating use of the death penalty for drug-related offenses in July and April.