Saudi Arabia declared on Saturday that it had executed 81 people in the previous 24 hours on various terrorism-related charges, exceeding the total number of executions in the Kingdom in 2021.

According to the Reports, the number of executions carried out over the weekend was the largest known mass execution in the Kingdom’s modern history. It even surpassed the 63 militants convicted of seizing Mecca’s Grand Mosque in 1979, who were executed in a mass execution in January 1980.

On March 12, some reports indicated that the executions included those “convicted of various crimes, including murdering innocent men, women, and children. The Kingdom also stated that those executed were members of al-Qaeda, the Islamic State group, and backers of Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Those executed by SPA included 73 Saudis, 7 Yemenis, and one Syrian.

“During the judicial process, the accused were provided with the right to an attorney and were guaranteed their full rights under Saudi law, which found them guilty of committing multiple heinous crimes that resulted in the deaths of a large number of civilians and law enforcement officers.”

“The Kingdom will regularly be going to take strict actions and unwavering stance against terrorism and extremist ideologies that danger the stabilization of entire world.”

However, the nor no report that found how the prisoners were executed and where they were executed. However, it described those executed as having “followed the footsteps of Satan” in carrying out their crimes. Meanwhile, it is unclear why Saudi Arabia chose Saturday for the executions, despite the fact that much of the world’s attention was still focused on Russia’s war in Ukraine.

According to reports, the number of death penalty cases being carried out in the Kingdom had fallen during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Kingdom continued to behead convicts under King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.