Why Did Saudi Arabia Execute 100 Foreigners This Year?

Saudi Arabia has executed more than 100 foreigners in 2024, which is almost triple the number for 2023 and 2022 where there were 34 executions every year.

Among these are 21 executions from Pakistan, 20 from Yemen, and 14 from Syria, representing the largest number of foreign executions in a year.

According to reports, the kingdom has been making unprecedented use of its death penalty.

Executions in Saudi Arabia: Drug Crimes

According to a report by news agency AFP, most of these deaths were due to drug-related crimes. Of a total of 92 executions linked to drug crimes, 69 involved foreign nationals in 2024.

Among the people who end up getting executed are the most vulnerable lot who are often victims of major drug dealers, reports said, citing human rights organisations.

Foreigners executed this year included 21 from Pakistan, 20 from Yemen, 14 from Syria, 10 from Nigeria, 9 from Egypt, 8 from Jordan and 7 from Ethiopia, according to an AFP report.

What Does The Crown Prince Say?

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly contradicted the claims of high executions in his kingdom, other than cases involving murder or individuals posing threats to people. The current count of executed foreign nationals has gone up to 101.

"This is the largest number of executions of foreigners in one year. Saudi Arabia has never executed 100 foreigners in a year," said Taha al-Hajji, the leader of the European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR).

After China and Iran, Saudi Arabia has reported the third-highest number of prisoners in the world in 2023, according to Amnesty International.