**Rights Groups Condemn New Record Number of Executions in Saudi Arabia**
In a concerning turn of events, Saudi Arabia has set a new high for executions within its borders for the second consecutive year. According to the UK-based human rights organization, Reprieve, at least 347 individuals have been executed in the kingdom this year, surpassing the previous total of 345 executions recorded in 2024. This spike in capital punishment has drawn criticism from numerous rights groups, marking 2025 as a year with the highest recorded executions since monitoring began.
The latest victims include two Pakistani nationals, who were executed following convictions related to drug offenses. This alarming trend indicates that most of the individuals subjected to capital punishment in Saudi Arabia are not violent offenders but rather those convicted of non-lethal drug crimes, which, as asserted by the United Nations, contradicts international legal standards. The majority, around two-thirds of those executed, faced sentences for drug-related activities, reinforcing a stringent anti-drug policy now in effect in the country.
A key observation made by Reprieve highlights that over half of the executed individuals were foreigners, further underlining the international ramifications of the Saudi penal system. The organization underscores that this rising tide of executions appears to be tied to a relentless “war on drugs.” Jeed Basyouni, Reprieve’s head for the Middle East and North Africa, starkly noted, “Saudi Arabia is operating with complete impunity now. It’s almost making a mockery of the human rights system.” Basyouni further emphasized that torture and the use of forced confessions have become pervasive within the nation’s criminal justice framework, indicating a deeply flawed legal process.
Further compounding the issue of executions, individuals like Issam al-Shazly, an Egyptian fisherman executed for allegedly being coerced into drug smuggling, reveal the troubling circumstances surrounding such punishments. The UN has criticized the abrupt resurgence of drug-related executions, which resumed after an unofficial moratorium in late 2022. Families of those on death row have spoken out about the pervasive atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, with one relative noting the torment of living under such dire conditions, sharing: “The only time of the week that I sleep is on Friday and Saturday because there are no executions on those days.”
Under the current regime led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who ascended to power in 2017, the kingdom has undergone significant societal shifts. While there have been advancements, such as lifting certain social restrictions and enhancing women’s rights, including permitting them to drive, the country’s human rights situation remains dire. Human Rights Watch emphasizes that executions in Saudi Arabia are at alarming levels, exceeded only by China and Iran.
International leaders and organizations have expressed outrage at the Saudi government’s ongoing disregard for human rights. Joey Shea from Human Rights Watch remarked that there has been no real consequence faced by the Saudi authorities for their execution rates, even as international scrutiny continues. The families of those executed frequently face a lack of communication from the government, often being kept in the dark about the fate of their loved ones, the method of execution, or even where their bodies are buried.
Dr. Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, has called for an immediate halt to executions in Saudi Arabia, stressing the necessity for the country to align with international human rights standards. The situation remains critical as rights organizations continue to advocate for transparency and accountability in the Saudi judicial system.
In the face of this grim reality, the kingdom’s trajectory continues to elicit concerns about the balance between maintaining public order and respecting fundamental human rights, posing a significant challenge to the international community that is committed to advocating for humane treatment and due process for all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.
