Increased Executions Reported in Saudi Arabia by Human Rights Advocates
In Saudi Arabia, the use of capital punishment has seen a significant and escalating trend, particularly for drug-related offenses. Over the past seven years, from 2014 to mid-2021, approximately 1,800 people were executed, with around a third (597) of these cases being drug-related crimes.
The impact on foreign nationals is particularly noteworthy, as about 75% of those executed for drug offenses were from countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria. This trend continued in 2024, with Saudi Arabia recording a staggering 345 executions, a dramatic increase compared to previous years, and drug-related executions soaring by 6000% compared to 2023.
International human rights bodies have strongly condemned this practice. The UN experts have urged Saudi Arabia to halt executions of foreign nationals on drug charges, citing violations of international human rights law. Several foreign nationals, including 26 Egyptian prisoners sentenced to death for drug offenses, reportedly face imminent execution despite concerns about coerced confessions and denial of legal representation.
The use of the death penalty for drug offenses in Saudi Arabia is considered "incompatible" with the country's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as drug crimes do not meet the threshold for the "most serious crimes" warranting capital punishment under international standards.
Amnesty International has highlighted broader concerns about the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, including its disproportionate use against foreign nationals and minority groups like the Shia community, and the execution of individuals who were minors at the time of their alleged offenses, which violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Notably, in June of this year, 46 people were executed in Saudi Arabia, with 37 of these cases being for drug-related offenses. The countries from which most foreign nationals were executed are Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Egypt, and Somalia.
The trend has not gone unnoticed, with Kristine Beckerle, responsible for the region at Amnesty International, stating that it is horrifying. Despite efforts to stop the use of the death penalty, Saudi Arabia still faces international criticism for its practice.
As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034, there are calls for the country to address these human rights concerns. The government's stance on capital punishment remains a point of contention, with the majority of foreign nationals executed being convicted of drug-related offenses.
Turki al-Jassir, a journalist who dealt with issues such as women's rights and corruption, was also executed in Saudi Arabia this year. However, his case was not drug-related, as he was accused of "terrorism" and endangering national security.
The situation in Saudi Arabia underscores the need for adherence to international human rights standards and a reconsideration of the extensive use of capital punishment, particularly for drug-related offenses and the disproportionate impact on foreign nationals.
- The escalating trend of drug-related executions in Saudi Arabia, particularly against foreign nationals from countries like Egypt, Nigeria, Syria, and Pakistan, has drawn severe criticism from international human rights bodies, including the UN, Amnesty International, and Kristine Beckerle of Amnesty International, who consider it incompatible with Saudi Arabia's obligations under international law.
- The imminent execution of 26 Egyptian prisoners on drug charges, despite concerns about coerced confessions and denial of legal representation, further underscores the need for Saudi Arabia to reconsider its use of capital punishment, especially in cases involving foreign nationals, as it faces persistent international criticism.
