Saudi Arabia
By Chris Williams
Saudi Arabia has executed eight people in a single day, state media said, amid a surge in the use of the death penalty in the Gulf monarchy particularly over drug-related convictions, with most of the recent cases involving foreign nationals and sparking fresh concerns from human rights groups about fair trials and torture. The executions, carried out on Saturday in the southern region of Najran, included seven people convicted of smuggling hashish into the kingdom and one for murder, pushing the total number of capital punishments in 2025 to 230 so far.
Details of the Latest Executions
The official reports outlined that four Somalis and three Ethiopians were put to death for smuggling hashish, a drug offence that has become a major focus of the kingdom’s harsh penalties. In addition, one Saudi man faced execution for the murder of his mother, a crime that falls under the more traditional categories for capital punishment in the country. These deaths happened all on the same day, highlighting the rapid pace at which authorities are carrying out sentences.
This event fits into a worrying pattern where groups of people are executed together, often without much public notice until after the fact. Families are left in the dark, sometimes learning about the deaths through media or prison whispers, adding to the pain and fear. In one prison, guards have been known to tell inmates a day ahead if their time is up, creating a tense and scary wait for those on death row.
Alarming Statistics and Rising Trends
Since the start of 2025, Saudi Arabia has executed 230 people, based on official tallies. A big chunk of these – 154 people – were for drug-related charges, showing how the focus on narcotics has driven up the numbers. If this pace keeps up, the kingdom could beat last year’s record of 345 executions, which was already the highest in over 30 years.
Looking closer at 2025, the first few months saw at least 88 executions between January and April, with 52 linked to drugs. Then in June alone, 46 people lost their lives, including 37 for drug offences – that works out to more than one such execution every day that month. By mid-year, the total hit around 180, with foreign nationals making up a large part of those facing the death penalty for drugs.
This spike ties back to the kingdom’s “war on drugs” kicked off in 2023. Many of those arrested in the early days of that campaign are only now reaching the end of their court cases, leading to more convictions and deaths. Before this, there was a short break: Saudi Arabia paused executions for drug crimes for about three years, starting in early 2021. They picked up again at the end of 2022, with 19 people executed that year for narcotics, just two in 2023, and a jump to 117 in 2024.
Over the last decade, from 2014 to mid-2025, close to 1,800 people have been executed in total, and about one in three were for drug offences. Last year saw 122 drug-related deaths, plus records broken for women (nine executed) and foreign nationals (138). So far in 2025, at least 68 have been for drugs, and 12 for non-violent “terrorism” charges, often tied to protests against the government.
Focus on Foreign Nationals and Specific Cases
Foreign nationals bear the brunt of these punishments, especially for drug crimes. Over the past 10 years, they made up nearly three-quarters of those executed for narcotics – about 450 out of 600. The hardest-hit groups include Pakistanis (over 150), Syrians (around 65), Jordanians (50), Yemenis (nearly 40), Egyptians (over 30), Nigerians (about 30), Somalis (20-plus), and Ethiopians (over 10).
In June 2025, 34 out of 46 executed were from abroad, hailing from places like Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria. Many are low-wage workers or migrants caught up in smuggling, often facing trials where they do not understand the language or get proper legal help.
Heartbreaking stories show the human side. Take Hussein Abou al-Kheir, a 57-year-old Egyptian father of eight, executed in 2023 after being beaten so badly he could not hold a pen, yet his forced “confession” was used against him. He begged for mercy multiple times, but the judge ignored claims of torture. Other cases involve men like Issam Shazly, Rami al-Najjar, Mohamed Ahmed Saad, and Omar Ahmad Ibrahim – all Egyptians on death row with reports of unfair trials, no lawyers, and beatings to get them to sign papers they could not read.
In prisons like Tabuk, groups of foreigners – such as 35 Egyptians moved to one ward late last year – live in fear of being next. At least 44 Somali men sit on death row in Najran for drug crimes, and families say they get taken away in the night, with no chance to say goodbye. One Somali, Mohamed Nur Hussein, was executed in February 2025 for a drug charge, leaving his loved ones shattered.
Even young people and those arrested as kids face risks. Abdullah al-Howaiti was just 14 when tortured into confessing a murder, and Abdullah al-Derazi was 17 when picked up for joining protests – both still await their fate despite promises to spare minors.
Human Rights Concerns and Criticisms
Human rights watchers slam these actions as a “chilling disregard for human life” and a break from global rules, which say the death penalty should only apply to the worst crimes like murder with intent. Using it for drugs goes against that, they argue, and trials are often unfair: no lawyers, no translators, torture to force confessions, and no real chance to fight back.
Groups point out how bodies are not returned to families, robbing them of proper burials and closure. This hits hard for foreigners, whose home countries offer little help. The death penalty also targets minorities, like Shia Muslims, for “terrorism” linked to speaking out.
All this happens in secret – trials behind closed doors, no public details on methods (though beheading is common), and sudden announcements after the fact. Critics say it creates terror in prisons, where inmates compare it to being led like sheep to slaughter.
Official Stance and Defences
Saudi authorities stand firm, saying the death penalty keeps public order and is only used after all appeals are done. They claim it fits Islamic law and is needed to fight drugs and crime. Officials point to the “war on drugs” as a way to protect society from smuggling and addiction, with harsh punishments as a deterrent.
They also say reforms are happening, like limiting capital punishment to murder and ending it for kids under 18. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has talked about cutting back on “discretionary” sentences under his Vision 2030 plan to modernise the country.
Clash with Vision 2030 Reforms
But many see a big gap between words and actions. Vision 2030 aims to paint Saudi Arabia as open and tolerant to draw tourists and investors. Yet the record executions – especially for non-violent crimes like carrying small amounts of drugs (even as little as 8 grams of cannabis) – hurt that image. Analysts say it shows judges are going tougher, not softer, ignoring the prince’s claims.
This surge comes as the kingdom hosts big events and pushes for change, but the hidden side of secret trials and mass deaths tells a different story. It raises questions about real progress on human rights, with calls for a full stop to executions and better laws.
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