Advocacy Organizations Condemn New Record in Capital Punishment in the Gulf State

The Kingdom has surpassed its prior execution tally for the carrying out of death sentences for a second year running.

No fewer than 347 individuals have been executed so far this year, per data from a UK-based campaign group that tracks such sentences.

This figure exceeds the total of 345 recorded in 2024, marking what the group calls the "most lethal year of executions in the kingdom since records started."

The most recent people put to death involved two individuals from Pakistan found guilty on illegal substance violations.

Details on the Executions

Additional individuals executed comprised a media professional and two youths who were underage at the time of their alleged acts connected to dissent.

A total of five were women. But, according to the monitoring group, the vast bulk—approximately two-thirds—were convicted for not involving murder narcotics charges.

International bodies have stated that applying the capital punishment for such offences is "contrary to international norms and standards."

More than half of those executed were individuals from other countries, caught up in what is described as a "war on drugs" within the kingdom.

"The kingdom is functioning with complete impunity now," remarked a head of the rights organization. "It's almost ridiculing the global justice mechanism."

The representative further characterized torture and forced confessions as "widespread" within the Saudi legal framework, calling it a "brutal and arbitrary crackdown."

Personal Accounts

Among those executed recently was a young fisherman from Egypt, taken into custody in 2021. He is said to have claimed he was coerced into smuggling drugs.

Family members of men on awaiting execution for drug charges have spoken anonymously the "terror" they now live in.

"The only time of the week that I sleep is on the weekend because there are no executions on those days," a family member said.

Fellow inmates have according to accounts seen individuals they lived alongside for years being "led kicking and screaming to their death."

Political Climate

The de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, who assumed power in 2017, has overseen major shifts in policy, relaxing some restrictions while at the same time suppressing opposition.

While the country has opened up in a bid to move away from oil dependency, its human rights record remains "abysmal" according to global watchdogs.

"There's been no cost for carrying out these executions," noted a analyst focusing on the region. "International gatherings continue with no repercussions."

Reports suggest families of the executed are typically not informed in advance, denied the bodies, and not told burial sites.

Global Condemnation

A UN special rapporteur has called for an prompt suspension on executions in Saudi Arabia, advocating for eventual abolition.

The official also stressed the need for "complete obedience with international standards," including access to lawyers and embassy contact for foreign nationals.

Specific cases have drawn particular ire, including those of individuals who were juveniles at the time of their reported offences and a journalist executed on claims of disloyalty.

"Executions against journalists is a deeply concerning assault on freedom of expression," stated a senior UN cultural official.

In a formal letter to UN concerns, Saudi authorities have stated that the country "defends and maintains human rights" and that its laws "outlaw and sanction torture."

The communication added that the death penalty is used exclusively for the "gravest offences" and after exhausting all court appeals.