Saudi Arabia has seen a sharp increase in the number of executions during the first half of 2024, sparking widespread criticism from human rights organizations. Despite the Saudi government’s pledges to improve human rights conditions, reports indicate a nearly 42% increase in executions compared to the same period last year.
According to a report by the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights, 100 executions were carried out by July 15, 2024, involving 98 men and 2 women, on charges related to murder, terrorism, and drugs. This represents a significant increase compared to 70 executions recorded in the same period in 2023.
Kenneth Roth, former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, noted that many of these executions were carried out for “political crimes” such as “endangering national unity” or “undermining social security,” raising doubts about the fairness of the trials, stressing that “using the judiciary to silence dissent is entirely contrary to Saudi Arabia’s declared commitments to improving human rights.”
This rise in executions contradicts “Saudi Vision 2030,” launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017, aiming to diversify the Saudi economy and reduce dependency on oil by encouraging foreign investments and promoting non-religious tourism. Despite social reforms allowing women to drive and work in various fields, the increasing number of executions raises questions about the sincerity of these reforms.
Researchers on Saudi affairs at Human Rights Watch expressed regret over the Saudi government’s retreat from its promises to limit the use of the death penalty for non-violent crimes.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia executed 172 people, a threefold increase compared to 2021 and a sevenfold increase compared to 2020. This rise is attributed to the resumption of executions for drug-related crimes after their suspension ended in November 2022.
Reports indicate that 66 of the 100 executions in 2024 were for murder charges, while the remaining 34 were related to terrorism and drugs. This number was exacerbated by the increased application of “ta’zir” sentences, which allow individual judges to issue discretionary punishment.
According to human rights observers, these developments highlight the urgent need to review policies and procedures related to human rights in Saudi Arabia and ensure justice and transparency in the judicial system, in line with international standards.
