Saudi Arabia executed seven people on October 23, including five Yemeni citizens and a Pakistani national, for drug trafficking and murder.
This brings the total number of executions in the kingdom to 236 this year, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and AFP.
The five Yemeni citizens, Yahya Lutfullah, Ali Azib, Ahmed Ali, and Salem Nahari, were executed in the southern province of Asir for smuggling hashish into the country.
A Pakistani man was also executed for drug trafficking, increasing the total number of executions for drug-related crimes to 71 this year.
Saudi Arabia has become a significant market for captagon, an addictive amphetamine primarily produced in Syria and Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia has intensified its anti-drug efforts, leading to numerous raids and arrests.
Amnesty International has criticized Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty, stating that it is excessive and inconsistent with the kingdom’s attempts to modernize its international image. A
gnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, noted, “Saudi Arabia’s authorities are pursuing a relentless killing spree displaying a chilling disregard for human life while promoting an empty-worded campaign to rebrand their image.”
The Saudi government defends the use of capital punishment as essential for maintaining public order, emphasizing that sentences are only carried out after all appeals have been exhausted.
Executions in Saudi Arabia are usually carried out by beheading with a sword, but may occasionally be performed by shooting or firing squad. Saudi performs public executions, with sentences primarily given based on confession.
Executions for drug trafficking have increased since the moratorium on the death penalty for drug offenses was lifted two years ago. In 2023, Saudi Arabia ranked third globally for the highest number of executions, behind China and Iran,
