Additional Name(s): يوسف المناسف

Gender: Male

Current Location: Ghezel Hesar Prison

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: Death

Date of Detainment: April/6/2017

Date of Sentencing: October/16/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Children’s Rights Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Aid & Abetment Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use Harboring a Fugitive Illegal Assembly Illicit Financing Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Youssef al-Manasif

Extra Bio Info:

Youssef al-Manasif is imprisoned and sentenced to death for his religious identity and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

On April 6, 2017, authorities arrested al-Manasif in relation to his participation in protests against the state's treatment of Shi'a citizens in al-Qatif. Al-Manasif was 20 years old at the time of his arrest and accused of crimes that he allegedly committed when he was a minor. Al-Manasif was reportedly tortured, subjected to solitary confinement, forced to sign a confession, and denied proper access to legal counsel. His family was only allowed to visit him five months after his arrest. Public prosecution reportedly charged al-Manasif with several crimes, including “participating in the funerals of some people who were shot dead by the security forces in demonstrations and raids…participating in demonstrations and riotous gatherings, chanting slogans, raising anti-state slogans, seeking to stir up sedition and division, destabilizing security, seeking to destabilize the national cohesion, advocating, participating and inciting sit-ins, demonstrations and gatherings that affect the unity and stability of the Kingdom, joining a terrorist cell, monitoring and shooting security men, selling narcotic pills to three security men, and covering up wanted persons” as well as “financing terrorism and terrorist acts.” At least two of the charges date back to when al-Manasif was 15 and 16 years old.

On October 16, 2022, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced al-Manasif to death.

On November 2, 2022, the Specialized Criminal Court of Appeal upheld al-Manasif's sentence, according to MENA Rights Group

On March 9, 2023, an appeals court "ratified" the ruling against al-Manasif, according to the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights.

In August 2023, Youssef’s case was remitted from the Saudi Supreme Court, which marks the final stage of judicial proceedings, and thus sent back to the Court of Appeal.

In March 2024, the Court of Appeal reportedly sent the case back to the Supreme Court for a final verdict.

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