In the first 11 months of 2024, Saudi Arabia has carried out the executions of over 100 foreign nationals, including 21 Pakistanis, many for drug-related offences. This alarming trend has triggered urgent calls from international communities for significant human rights reforms in the kingdom.
This year, Saudi Arabia has intensified its use of capital punishment, administering the death penalty to over 100 foreign nationals, including 21 Pakistanis. This figure marks a threefold increase over the annual totals from the past two years, with 34 foreigners executed each year in 2022 and 2023.
Saudi Arabia’s execution of 100 foreigners in 2024 branded an ‘unprecedented crisis’ https://t.co/PiEgOK27sr
— Metro (@MetroUK) November 18, 2024Reports from the French news agency indicate that the sharp increase in executions mainly targets individuals convicted of drug-related offences. The Saudi Press Agency recently reported the execution of a Yemeni citizen for drug smuggling, reflecting the kingdom’s broader shift toward more severe penalties for narcotics offences.
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Detailed statistics reveal the diverse nationalities of those executed: 21 Pakistanis, 20 Yemenis, 14 Syrians, 10 Nigerians, 9 Egyptians, 8 Jordanians, and 7 Ethiopians. Other executed individuals include three citizens each from Sudan, India, and Afghanistan, with single cases involving nationals from Sri Lanka, Eritrea, and the Philippines.
Saudi Arabia executed 100 people from the beginning of 2024 to July 15, the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR) said on Monday. pic.twitter.com/1qJlcBepRd
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) July 17, 2024This significant increase in executions has drawn severe criticism from international human rights organizations. They argue that such practices undermine Saudi Arabia’s simultaneous efforts to enhance its image as a welcoming destination for international tourists and investors. Human rights advocates are calling on the Saudi government to review and restrict the use of the death penalty in alignment with global human rights standards.
