Rights groups condemn execution of Saudi journalist Turki Al-Jasser

Rights groups condemn execution of Saudi journalist Turki Al-Jasser
………………

Human rights organizations have strongly condemned Saudi Arabia’s execution of journalist Turki Al-Jasser, calling it a grave violation of free expression and due process. Al-Jasser, forcibly disappeared in 2018, was reportedly executed on June 14, 2025, following charges of terrorism and treason, which rights groups described as vague and politically motivated.

According to ALQST, a UK-based rights group, Al-Jasser was held incommunicado for years and contacted his family only once in 2020. The Saudi Interior Ministry said he was convicted of espionage and funding anti-state activities. However, organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists and Saudi opposition group SANAD described the trial as unfair and alleged he had been tortured.

The case adds to growing concerns about the surge in executions in Saudi Arabia, with over 100 carried out in 2025 alone. Amnesty International ranks the kingdom among the world’s top executioners, alongside Iran and China. Rights groups argue the crackdown contradicts Saudi Arabia’s reform image.