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Saudi Arabia sentences 15 people to death over Iranian spy case Saudi Arabia sentences 15 people to death over Iranian spy case
(35 minutes later)
A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced 15 people to death and jailed many more over an alleged spy ring that handed secret documents to Iran. The Saudi Arabian government has sentenced 15 people to death and jailed many more over an alleged spy ring that handed secret documents to Iran.
The Government announced earlier this year that 30 Saudis, an Iranian, and an Afghan, all with links to the Iranian intelligence service, would stand trial. A court in the capital of Riyadh handed down the death penalties on Tuesday over a three-year case that involves 30 Saudis, one Iranian and one Afghan.
The charges included the formation of a spy cell which fed back sensitive national security information to the Gulf state's biggest rival. Critics have long said the high-profile trial is entirely politically motivated and serves as a distraction from the Gulf state's economic woes.
Suspects were also accused of meeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, of possessing weapons, forging documents and accepting bribes. The 32 were detained in 2013 and went on trial in February charged with an exhaustive list of damning accusations.
Moreover, they were accused of attempting economic sabotage, of trying to undermine social peace, spread chaos, incite sectarian strife and carry out "hostile acts" against the kingdom. Saudi state media said suspects fed back sensitive national security information to Iran - the Islamic kingdom's long-term rival - that attacked the territorial unity and integrity of the country and its armed forces.
Prosecutors accused the alleged spy ring of travelling to Iran and Lebanon for training on espionage techniques which included drafting coded messages. Suspects were also accused of meeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, coordinating with Iranian intelligence agents, of possessing weapons, forging documents and accepting bribes.
Moreover, they were accused of attempting economic sabotage, of trying to undermine social peace and public order, spread chaos, incite sectarian strife and carry out "hostile acts" against the kingdom.
Prosecutors also accused the alleged spy ring of travelling to Iran and Lebanon for training on espionage techniques which included drafting coded messages.
The gang allegedly attempted to recruit people working in state agencies and hack into computers for sensitive information.
Almost all of the defendants are Shia Muslims, in what is a Sunni-dominated country, and are from the oil rich Eastern province where street protests calling for democratic reform have bubbled up since the Arab Spring.
Anger reached fever pitch in this region, when in January, leading celric and vocal regime critic Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was executed.
The publicity has swept aside headlines surrounding the Saudis involvment in the Yemn civil war, which has killed more than 10,000 civilians.
During times of low oil prices, Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman has slashed capital spending by 71 per cent and ministers' pay by 20 per cent.
 
 
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