Global Organization Condemns Saudi Arabia Over Executions of Minors, Calls for Immediate Halt

Global Organization Condemns Saudi Arabia Over Executions of Minors, Calls for Immediate Halt
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The international advocacy group Global Citizen has sharply criticized Saudi Arabia for continuing to impose the death penalty on individuals accused of crimes committed while under 18, calling it a “blatant violation” of the kingdom’s international obligations.

In a strongly worded open letter to Saudi authorities, the organization expressed “deep concern” over recent executions of minors and highlighted that others remain at risk of execution. Global Citizen emphasized that such sentences contravene international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Saudi Arabia is a signatory.

The group called on the Saudi government to annul death sentences for those accused while minors and implement an immediate and permanent moratorium on executions. The statement cited two youths executed in 2025 for alleged crimes committed as minors, despite official claims that the policy had ended, raising “serious concerns” about the fate of other children in the judicial system.

Global Citizen also criticized the fairness of the trials, reporting that some defendants were subjected to torture and coerced confessions, which served as the primary evidence for convictions. The organization noted a record surge in executions in 2025, exceeding figures from 2024, reflecting the use of capital punishment as a tool for political intimidation.

The group urged the international community to press Saudi Arabia to protect children and detainees and end executions entirely.