23/08/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 23 August, an EU spokesperson denounced the indictment and death sentence on five human rights activists, including a woman, in Saudi Arabia, who are accused of incitement to protest within the Shi'ite Muslim minority. "The European Union and its member states hold a strong and principled position against the death penalty, in all circumstances and for all cases", the spokesperson said, adding that the EU was following the ongoing judicial procedure closely. "The EU has been emphasising the relevance of the role of human rights defenders and civil society groups in the process of reform which the Kingdom (of Saudi Arabia) is pursuing as well as the importance of respecting the rules of due process for all those arrested", the spokesperson added. (CG)