U.S. Commissioner for International Religious Freedom Calls on Secretary of State to Pressure Riyadh to Overturn Yusuf Al-Manasef’s Death Sentence
London – 8 January 2026 – Rachel Laser, Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has urged the U.S. administration to exert pressure on Saudi authorities to overturn the death sentence against Saudi Shiite citizen Yusuf Al-Manasef, who faces an imminent risk of execution. The call coincides with the visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Washington this week.
Laser stated: “With Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Washington this week, Secretary Rubio should press Saudi authorities to overturn the death sentence against Shiite Muslim Yusuf Al-Manasef, who faces imminent execution.”
Saudi authorities arrested Yusuf Al-Manasef in April 2017 over his participation in protests against the government. According to human rights sources, he was subjected during his detention to torture and solitary confinement, forced to sign confessions, and denied the right to legal counsel.
On 16 October 2022, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Al-Manasef to death. The ruling was upheld by the Specialized Criminal Court of Appeal on 2 November 2022, and reaffirmed again on 9 March 2023.
The case then underwent a series of further judicial developments. In August 2023, it was referred to the Saudi Supreme Court, the final stage of litigation, before later being returned to the Court of Appeal. In March 2024, reports indicated that the Court of Appeal referred the case back to the Supreme Court for a final ruling.
In November 2024, according to human rights reports, the Saudi Supreme Court overturned the death sentence against Al-Manasef. However, in December 2024, the Specialized Criminal Court launched a new trial, during which the Public Prosecution again sought the death penalty, despite the annulment.
According to human rights sources, in February 2025 the Supreme Court reimposed the death penalty on Al-Manasef. The Court of Appeal then held a hearing in May 2025, postponed a decision, and ultimately upheld the death sentence in August 2025.
In the same context, Saudi authorities recorded their highest execution rate in 2025 since human rights documentation began, carrying out 356 executions, including 45 politically motivated executions, among them two minors. Since the beginning of 2026, Saudi Arabia has already carried out three political executions on terrorism-related charges—accusations that Saudi authorities frequently use against dissidents and critics.
