Saudi Arabia Sets Grim Execution Record for Second Consecutive Year
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reached another grim milestone in its history, surpassing its previous record for executions for the second year in a row. As of this week, at least 347 people have faced capital punishment in 2024, raising urgent concerns about human rights practices in the kingdom.
Why It Matters
This alarming trend underscores ongoing issues related to justice and human rights in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding its aggressive stance on non-lethal drug offenses and the treatment of marginalized communities. The rise in executions brings international scrutiny as human rights advocates criticize the kingdom’s legal practices and call for reform.
Key Developments
- Issam al-Shazly, an Egyptian fisherman, was executed on Tuesday after being convicted on drug-related charges.
- The total number of executions reached 347 this year, up from 345 in 2024, marking it the deadliest year since monitoring began.
- Recent executions included not only drug offenders but also a journalist and two minors charged with protest-related crimes.
- Approximately two-thirds of those executed were convicted of non-lethal drug offenses, with many being foreign nationals.
- UN human rights experts have criticized the Saudi government’s reliance on torture and forced confessions within its judicial system.
- The rise in executions follows the end of an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment that had been in place since late 2022.
Full Report
Recent Executions and Concerns
On Tuesday, Issam al-Shazly, an Egyptian fisherman arrested in 2021, was executed after claiming he was coerced into smuggling drugs. His case highlights the brutal climate of fear that those facing drug-related charges endure in Saudi Arabia. According to the monitoring group Reprieve, 96 of this year’s executions were linked solely to hashish.
The latest executions also included two Pakistani nationals and highlighted disturbing patterns where minors and individuals charged under vague terrorism laws were sentenced to death. Abdullah al-Derazi and Jalal al-Labbad, both executed earlier this year, were convicted for their participation in protests against the treatment of the Shia Muslim minority. Their sentences were heavily criticized for being based on "confessions" obtained through torture.
International Reactions and Statements
Jeed Basyouni, the head of death penalty for the Middle East and North Africa at Reprieve, condemned what she termed a "brutal and arbitrary crackdown" and stated that the Saudi regime is operating with impunity. Human Rights Watch noted that recent executions appear to send a message of zero tolerance towards dissent and social issues, such as drug-related offenses.
Meanwhile, UN experts have called for an immediate moratorium on executions in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Morris Tidball-Binz urged compliance with international legal standards, including prompt notification of families and the return of remains.
Life in Fear
Families of those on death row have expressed living in constant terror, with one person stating, “The only time of the week that I sleep is on Friday and Saturday because there are no executions on those days.” Reports from prison indicate that inmates witness fellow prisoners executed, contributing to a culture of dread.
Context & Previous Events
The execution spree follows the end of a moratorium that had been informally maintained by Saudi authorities since late 2022. Activists have labeled the increased rate of executions as a response to perceived threats to the government’s stability, with enforcement of strict drug laws often impacting the marginalized and foreign nationals disproportionately. The kingdom remains notorious for its human rights violations, following only China and Iran in execution rates according to global watchdogs.
