Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in the world that still actively enforces the death penalty. The kingdom’s justice system, rooted in Islamic Sharia law, mandates capital punishment for a range of offenses, including murder, terrorism, drug trafficking, apostasy, and sorcery.
Although in 2022 the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has proposed changes to modernize laws, including reducing the use of the death penalty for non-violent offenses and forbidding the execution of individuals who committed crimes as minors, overall use of the death penalty remains high. In 2024, Saudi authorities carried out at least 338 executions, the highest number of executions recorded in the country since 1990. This event highlighted the ongoing tension between the kingdom’s reformist image and its adherence to strict legal punishments.
Individuals convicted of terrorism-related activities are frequently executed, with Saudi authorities asserting that harsh penalties serve as a deterrent. Yet, this charge is often used against those who have participated in anti-government protests. For instance, in April 2024 Saudi Arabia’s court of appeal approved death sentences for two Saudi men, Yousif al-Manasif and Ali al-Mabyook, for protest-related crimes allegedly committed when they were between the ages of 14 and 17.
Moreover, the country is planning to execute six Shia citizens, including five who were minors during the 2011-2012 pro-democracy protests and one businessman. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found their imprisonment violated multiple human rights categories, including lack of legal basis, unfair trials, and discrimination against the Shia minority. Some were prosecuted under Saudi Arabia’s controversial counter-terrorism law.
Many executions are mainly related to alleged drug smuggling with Saudi Arabia maintaining a strict zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking and smuggling. In 2024, Saudi authorities executed around 50 individuals solely for drug-related offences compared to two executions for the same crime were documented in the country in 2023.
Moreover, this practice disproportionately affects the disadvantaged and the victims of discrimination such as foreign workers and women. Indeed, an increase in the executions of foreign nationals and women has been reported. Most of the women were foreign, including four Nigerians, all of whom were executed for drug-related offences. Executions of foreign nationals also rose, with 138 killed, up from 38 in 2023.
Sentences are often handed down by judges who have broad discretionary powers, leading to concerns over the consistency and fairness of rulings. Also, many capital offenses do now follow clear defining guidelines.
At the same time, Saudi authorities are spending billions to transform the country’s reputation and present a more modern, progressive image to the world. As part of these efforts, the kingdom has hosted major sporting events, music festivals, and cultural exhibitions, attracting global celebrities and investors to distract the international community from ongoing human rights violations such as the mass executions.
ADHRB denounces the persistence of the death penalty, especially when the individuals were minors at the time of the crime. Also, the executions reflect systemic discrimination, particularly against the Shia minority, who are disproportionately targeted under vague anti-terrorism laws. Finally, ADHRB calls on Saudi authorities to immediately halt executions, implement judicial reforms ensuring fair trials, and comply with international conventions prohibiting capital punishment for minors. It also urges the global community to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for these human rights violations.
