Advocacy Organizations Decry New Record in Death Sentences in the Gulf State

The Kingdom has surpassed its prior execution tally for the number of executions for a second consecutive year.

At least 347 persons have been subjected to capital punishment so far this year, per data from a London-based advocacy organization that monitors such proceedings.

This figure is higher than the total of 345 documented in 2024, marking what the group calls the "most lethal year of executions in the kingdom since records started."

The newest people put to death involved two individuals from Pakistan sentenced on illegal substance violations.

Breakdown of the Sentences

Additional individuals executed include a media professional and two individuals who were underage at the time of their claimed offences linked to demonstrations.

Five were female prisoners. Yet, as stated by the monitoring group, the majority—around two-thirds—were convicted for not involving murder narcotics charges.

The United Nations have stated that applying the ultimate sentence for such offences is "incompatible with international law and principles."

A majority of those executed were non-Saudi citizens, ensnared in what is described as a "war on drugs" within the kingdom.

"The kingdom is functioning with total disregard now," stated a head of the rights organization. "It's almost making a mockery of the global justice mechanism."

The representative further labeled torture and forced confessions as "endemic" within the Saudi legal framework, calling it a "severe and random suppression."

Human Stories

Among those put to death this week was a young fisherman from Egypt, detained in 2021. He reportedly claimed he was coerced into smuggling drugs.

Relatives of men on death row for drug charges have spoken anonymously the "dread" they now live in.

"The sole period of the week that I find peace is on Friday and Saturday because there are no executions on those days," one relative stated.

Other prisoners have reportedly seen individuals they lived alongside for years being "taken in protest to their death."

Broader Context

The effective leader of Saudi Arabia, who assumed power in 2017, has overseen profound social changes, loosening some limitations while at the same time cracking down on dissent.

Even as the country has become more accessible in a bid to move away from oil dependency, its human rights record remains "poor" according to global watchdogs.

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

Reports suggest families of the executed are often left in the dark, refused custody, and not informed about burial sites.

Calls for Action

A United Nations expert has demanded an instant halt on executions in Saudi Arabia, pushing for eventual abolition.

The rapporteur also stressed the need for "complete obedience with international protections," including representation and embassy contact for detainees from abroad.

Specific cases have drawn special condemnation, including those of individuals who were under the age of majority at the time of their alleged crimes and a writer executed on claims of disloyalty.

"Capital punishment against journalists is a frightening blow on press freedom," stated a senior UN cultural official.

In a official communication to international queries, Saudi authorities have stated that the country "protects and upholds human rights" and that its laws "outlaw and sanction torture."

The communication continued that the capital punishment is applied solely for the "most serious crimes" and after completing all legal processes.