RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has executed 17 people over a span of three days, drawing renewed global criticism over the kingdom’s use of the death penalty, particularly in cases involving non-violent drug offenses and foreign nationals.
On Monday, two individuals were executed for “terrorist crimes”, following the execution of 15 others over the weekend, most of whom were foreign nationals convicted of drug smuggling, according to reports from the state-run Saudi Press Agency, cited by CBS News.
The executed individuals included:
- 13 convicted of smuggling hashish
- 1 for cocaine trafficking
- 2 for terrorism-related charges
This marks the fastest wave of executions in the kingdom since March 2022, when 81 people were put to death in a single day — a move that had then triggered widespread international condemnation.
Record-Breaking Execution Rate in 2025
With 239 executions so far in 2025, Saudi Arabia is on pace to surpass last year’s total of 338, the highest annual figure since public records began in the early 1990s.
According to an AFP tally:
- 161 executions this year were for drug-related offenses
- 136 of those executed were foreign nationals
The surge in executions follows the launch of Saudi Arabia’s intensified “war on drugs” in 2023. Analysts suggest many of those being executed now were arrested during the early stages of that crackdown.
Global Rights Groups Alarmed
Human rights organizations have strongly condemned the recent executions, especially in cases involving hashish trafficking and non-violent crimes.
“We are seeing a significant rise in executions for hashish-related drug offenses, with foreign nationals making up most of these executions,” said Jeed Basyouni of Reprieve, a UK-based human rights group.
“We are witnessing a truly horrifying trend,” added Kristine Beckerle, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Foreign nationals are being put to death at a startling rate for crimes that should never carry the death penalty.”
Many of those executed reportedly had limited legal support, language barriers, and no access to fair trials, according to activists.
Reform Narrative Under Scrutiny
The spike in executions threatens to undermine Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform agenda, which aims to present a modern and progressive image of Saudi Arabia to the world. While the crown prince has promised judicial reforms in the past, critics argue that the continued use of capital punishment for non-violent offenses reveals deep contradictions in the kingdom’s human rights record.
Rights advocates and international observers are now urging Saudi Arabia to immediately halt all executions for drug-related crimes and reconsider its heavy-handed approach, warning that the latest wave could further damage the kingdom’s global reputation.
