Saudi Arabia to behead author, journalist and cleric on terrorism charges

Saudi Arabia will execute three prominent scholars who are being held on multiple charges of "terrorism" shortly after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

One of the men was arrested in September last year shortly after he tweeted a prayer for reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar amid the neighbours' diplomatic crisis.

All three scholars - cleric Sheikh Salman al-Odah, author Awad al-Qarni and broadcaster Ali al-Omari - have a massive presence online, with al-Odah's Twitter account having more than 13million followers.

Saudi Arabia, Britain's ally in the Middle East, is one of the world's most prolific executioners behind only China and Iran, according to Amnesty International.

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