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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington

Saudi prosecutors seek death penalty for academic over social media use

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to project a modernising image of his country. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

A prominent pro-reform law professor in Saudi Arabia is facing the death penalty for alleged crimes including having a Twitter account and using WhatsApp to share news considered “hostile” to the kingdom, according to court documents seen by the Guardian.

The arrest of Awad Al-Qarni, 65, in September 2017 represented the start of a crackdown against dissent by the then newly named crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.

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