the laureates were sentenced to between ten and fifteen years imprisonment and all are currently in jail after being convicted of charges relating to their human rights activities. the jury in stockholm considers them role models. but even as prisoners of conscience. are a great source of inspiration and hope for the people of saudi arabia and the wider gulf region. are co-founders of the saudi association for political and civil rights which was forbidden by the royal family but the award in the ensuing media attention focuses a spotlight on the state of human rights in the gulf state and saudi arabia the death penalty is an integral part of the penal code not only convicted terrorists are sentenced to death but also shiite academics for example or adulterers homosexuality is treated as a criminal offense if women wish to renew their passport or open a bank account they need permission from their husbands fathers or uncles. but the