'I STILL CHASE THE LIGHT,' A PALESTINIAN POET APPEALS HIS DEATH SENTENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA

A representation of a line from "Frida Kahlo's Moustache," by Ashraf Fayadh. Photo by Beenish Ahmed. 

A representation of a line from "Frida Kahlo's Moustache," by Ashraf Fayadh. Photo by Beenish Ahmed. 

Ashraf Fayadh, a poet and Palestinian refugee sentenced to death for apostasy in Saudi Arabia, is appealing his sentence. Human rights advocates say that judges disregarded evidence of mental illness and ignored his repentance for the charge of apostasy during his first trial.

On Thursday, writers and activists in 44 countries read Fayadh's poems at public demonstrations in an effort to pressure authorities to halt his execution. Saudi Arabia carries out more executions than any country accept for China. The Kingdom executed more than 150 people last year, many of which are carried those for nonviolent offenses. 

This week's #alignistline is from a poem by Fayadh called "Frida Kahlo's Moustache." It was translated from Arabic by Fady Joudah.