Because three men stood in the way of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s planned megacity of Neom, they would soon die: As a human rights group reported, members of the Howeitat tribe were “sentenced to death for refusing to leave their homes to leave.” “.
As the organization Alqst writes, the three men aged 30 to 40 were arrested in 2020. Her tribe was forcibly displaced to make way for a 170-kilometer-long megacity in the northern Arabian desert. But Shadli, Ibrahim and Ataullah al-Huwaiti refused to follow the order – in early October they now accepted the death penalty for this disobedience.
Protest posts were deadly for mens
According to the organization, Ibrahim was part of a delegation of local residents that met in 2020 with the official commission responsible for acquiring the land needed for the megacity. According to Alqst, Ataullah could be seen in several video clips “talking about the plight of his family and all other displaced residents” affected by the eviction. Shadli also expressed his anger at the eviction notices on social media.
Shadli al-Howeiti also reported on the ill-treatment he suffered during his detention. According to Alqst, he went on a hunger strike to protest. Finally, after two weeks, he was forced into his stomach through a tube – another form of torture organized by the organization.
High prison terms for other tribesmen
Other members of the tribe who had supported the men’s action, who were now sentenced to death, including via social media posts, were sentenced to long prison terms. So two men were sentenced to 50 years in prison and 50 years.
Futuristic city for nine million inhabitants
The flagship project on the Saudi coast would cost $500 billion and provide space for nine million people. Neom will be 170 kilometers long, but only 200 meters wide and 500 meters high. Due to the unusual floor plan, the neighborhoods have to be organized vertically: this should ensure that all daily needs can be reached within five minutes on foot.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
