Saudi Arabia has executed at least 101 foreign nationals so far in 2024, marking a sharp increase in capital punishments for non-citizens, according to a tally by Agence France-Presse (AFP). This unprecedented rise has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations.
The most recent execution occurred on Saturday in the southwestern Najran region, where a Yemeni national was put to death for drug smuggling, as reported by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
This year’s tally of foreign nationals executed nearly triples the figures recorded in 2023 and 2022, when 34 foreigners were executed annually. According to the European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR), this year’s figures set a grim record.
“This is the largest number of foreign executions ever recorded in a single year in Saudi Arabia,” said Taha al-Hajji, legal director of ESOHR.
Growing Criticism
Saudi Arabia has long faced international condemnation for its use of the death penalty, with human rights groups accusing the kingdom of excessive punishments that undermine its efforts to modernize and attract international investment. Amnesty International ranks Saudi Arabia as the third-highest executor in the world, following China and Iran.
The kingdom ended a three-year moratorium on executions for drug offenses in 2022, significantly contributing to this year’s increase. As of now, 92 of the executions in 2024 have been related to drug crimes, 69 of which involved foreigners.
Disproportionate Impact on Foreign Nationals
Foreigners make up a significant proportion of those executed, with individuals from Pakistan (21), Yemen (20), Syria (14), Nigeria (10), and Egypt (9) among those who lost their lives. Others include nationals from Jordan, Ethiopia, Sudan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Eritrea, and the Philippines.
Diplomats and rights activists argue that foreign nationals face additional barriers in Saudi Arabia’s legal system, including limited access to legal representation and court documents. According to ESOHR, these individuals are often victims of systemic violations from the point of arrest to their execution.
“Foreign nationals are among the most vulnerable, often exploited by major drug cartels and denied fair trials,” Hajji noted.
Global Concerns and Responses
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, claimed in 2022 that the death penalty would be limited to murder cases or instances where public safety was at risk. However, the ongoing surge in executions, particularly for drug offenses, has cast doubt on such commitments.
Advocacy groups like Reprieve have expressed alarm over the high number of executions, with its Middle East head, Jeed Basyouni, calling the situation an “unprecedented execution crisis.” She noted that the overall number of executions in 2024 is on track to exceed 300.
“Families of foreign nationals on death row are understandably terrified that their loved ones may be next,” Basyouni said.
