Joint Statement on Imminent Execution of Western-Bound Student

(KALAMAZOO, MI) — July 20, 2017

We, a coalition of students and RSOs (Registered Student Organizations) at Western Michigan University, have been shocked and saddened to learn in recent days that Mujtaba al-Sweikat, a prospective student at WMU, currently faces the imminent threat of execution in his native Saudi Arabia.

Mujtaba was in many ways the typical kind of person you’d find at Western — he was a promising student, keen athlete, and showed an interest in acting and filmmaking. He wanted to travel halfway around the world to pursue his dream of studying English and Finance. That dream was cut short when, at only 17, he was arrested at the airport gates as he readied to board a plane to visit our campus. While he should have been here joining our WMU community, he was instead being beaten, tortured and forced to sign a false confession for having attended peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations. This is unacceptable.

Mujtaba al-Sweikat

For expressing his right to peacefully protest, Mujtaba now faces beheading. As students and as Americans, we wholeheartedly support the rights to free speech, expression and assembly. We therefore publicly express our support and solidarity for Mujtaba and all others facing imminent execution for exercising their rights in Saudi Arabia.

We also call on President Trump and the US government to support those exercising their fundamental right to free expression. Mujtaba was coming to the US to enjoy the guaranteed rights we often take for granted, and as US citizens we must stand against attacks on free expression which undermine freedom and democracy — no matter where such violations take place. We therefore urge our elected leaders both here and around the state and country to use their influence to stop these executions and ensure all unjust death sentences are commuted.

We take pride in our campus being a diverse and welcoming international community, and we look forward to one day welcoming Mujtaba to campus and hope he is soon able to take up his place with us at Western Michigan University.


Co-Signing Organizations

WMU College Democrats

The College Democrats at Western Michigan University. Meetings weekly, Thursday nights at 7pm in room 211 of the Bernhard Center.

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WMU College Democrats

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The official publication of the College Democrats of Western Michigan University.

WMU College Democrats

The College Democrats at Western Michigan University. Meetings weekly, Thursday nights at 7pm in room 211 of the Bernhard Center.

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