In a shocking escalation of its use of the death penalty, Saudi Arabia executed 101 foreign nationals in 2024, marking the highest number of executions in a single year in the kingdom’s history.
The figure, which is nearly three times the number of foreigners executed in the past two years combined, has raised serious concerns among human rights organizations, with many calling it an unprecedented surge in capital punishment.
The bulk of these executions were linked to drug-related offences, which continue to dominate the kingdom’s death penalty cases. According to reports, 92 executions in 2024 were tied to drug crimes, with 69 of those involving foreign nationals.
This marks a stark contrast to previous years, where executions of foreign nationals were far fewer, with 34 recorded in each of 2022 and 2023.
Human rights groups have strongly condemned the surge in executions, accusing Saudi authorities of targeting vulnerable foreign nationals, many of whom are alleged to have been coerced or manipulated into drug trafficking activities.
Taha al-Hajji, the legal director of the European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR), explained that foreigners, particularly those from poorer countries, are disproportionately affected by the kingdom’s draconian drug laws.
“Foreigners are the most vulnerable group,” al-Hajji told AFP. “They are often victims of major drug dealers and subjected to a series of violations from the moment of their arrest until their execution.”
The deaths of these foreign nationals have sparked widespread concern, particularly among the families of those on death row. For many, the uncertainty and constant fear that their loved one could be executed at any time is unbearable. Jeed Basyouni, from the anti-death penalty organization Reprieve, described the situation as an “unprecedented execution crisis.”
Basyouni added that “Families of foreign nationals on death row are understandably terrified that their loved one will be next,” highlighting the emotional toll of the kingdom’s harsh approach to justice.
Among those executed in 2024, a significant number came from countries with already strained relations with Saudi Arabia. Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, and Nigeria were among the most affected nations.
According to AFP, the breakdown of foreign nationals executed in 2024 includes 21 from Pakistan, 20 from Yemen, 14 from Syria, 10 from Nigeria, and 9 from Egypt. Other countries whose nationals were executed include Jordan, Ethiopia, Sudan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Eritrea, and the Philippines.
The rise in executions has drawn attention to Saudi Arabia’s overall use of capital punishment, which is one of the highest in the world.
Amnesty International has repeatedly criticized the kingdom for its execution practices, noting that Saudi Arabia ranks third globally in the number of executions, behind China and Iran.
The execution figures for 2024 further cement the kingdom’s place among the world’s top executors, despite international efforts to curb the use of the death penalty.
This sharp increase in executions stands in stark contrast to the statements made by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In a 2022 interview with The Atlantic, bin Salman claimed that the kingdom had abolished the death penalty for all crimes except murder or cases where individuals pose a significant threat to public safety.
This recent surge in executions, particularly for non-violent crimes like drug trafficking, has led critics to accuse the crown prince of misleading the international community.
Saudi Arabia’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, which permits the death penalty for a range of offenses, has long been a point of contention with human rights organizations.
However, the sheer scale of this year’s executions has amplified concerns about the kingdom’s commitment to reform and its treatment of foreign nationals.
The growing number of executions has also raised questions about the fairness of the legal processes in Saudi Arabia. Human rights organizations argue that many of those executed were subjected to trials that lacked transparency and fairness, with allegations of forced confessions and inadequate legal representation.
As a result, the international community has called for a reevaluation of Saudi Arabia’s judicial system and its use of the death penalty.
In response to the mounting international criticism, Saudi Arabia has largely remained silent, with little public acknowledgment of the growing concerns.
However, the kingdom’s leaders continue to defend their policies, arguing that the death penalty is necessary for maintaining order and combating crime, particularly drug trafficking, which is seen as a significant problem in the region.
As the number of executions continues to rise, the global community is left grappling with the implications of Saudi Arabia’s policies.
The families of those executed, many of whom have already been robbed of their loved ones, now face an uncertain future as the kingdom’s use of the death penalty shows no signs of slowing down.