Sentenced to death as a minor, Saudi Ali Muhammed al-Nimr is now facing “death by Crucifixion”. His crime? Participating in anti-government protests in his hometown of Qatif in Saudi Arabia’s Shiite populated East province in February 2012, during the Arab Spring movement.

Police say that he was accused of taking part in illegal protests and handling firearms. As a juvenile offender, he had no access to lawyers. Evidence has emerged that he had been tortured and forced to sign a confession. There was never any evidence that he had handled firearms though this was the major crux of the case leading to the decision to crucify him.

The appeal process took place without the family’s knowledge even though the young man has repeatedly denied the crime. The family was only informed of the appeal once the case was denied, and there was no legal representative to oppose the death sentence.

It is believed that he is being made a scapegoat for his uncle, Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, an influential religious leader and activist who was arrested and incarcerated after delivering speeches to anti-government protesters in 2012. He was convicted and killed for “waging war against God”.

The crucifixion is to take place on Thursday. A sentence to death by crucifixion involves beheading and then placing the prisoner on a cross for a number of days.