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Introduction
With record-breaking and historic execution numbers and an unprecedented expansion of charges, Saudi Arabia closed the year 2024. The shocking figures doubled compared to 2023, with an increase exceeding 100%, signaling a significant escalation in the use of the death penalty as Saudi Arabia’s primary tool for punishment, sending messages, and instilling fear. According to official statistics, from King Salman bin Abdulaziz's ascension to power in 2015 until the end of 2024, Saudi Arabia executed 1,585 individuals, 345 of whom—22%—were executed in 2024, averaging one execution every 25 hours.
The sharp rise in numbers included executions of individuals charged with drug-related offenses, an expansion of charges warranting the death penalty, a troubling increase in the execution of women, and a high proportion of foreigners. Despite human rights criticisms and international pressure, which culminated in Saudi Arabia losing its bid for membership in the UN Human Rights Council, the kingdom's highest human rights body, in September 2024, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the execution of 345 individuals. These executions were carried out amidst the complete absence of justice guarantees and ongoing violations in judicial proceedings. This alarming increase starkly exposed the false promises made in recent years, particularly by Mohammed bin Salman, and revealed Saudi Arabia’s trajectory regarding human rights, especially concerning the death penalty.
While Saudi Arabia celebrated hosting major global events and welcoming celebrities from around the world, the shadow of execution loomed over its prisons. Inmates lived in a constant state of fear, facing the threat of sudden, unannounced executions.
As the new year begins, Saudi Arabia continues to threaten dozens with execution, including minors, protesters, and clerics, reflecting the regime's ongoing repressive approach and revealing the darker side of the image the kingdom seeks to project internationally.
In its 2024 annual report, the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights seeks to shed light on the statistics and figures related to these executions, analyze the practices of the Saudi judiciary, including gross violations of criminal justice, the lack of transparency in trials, and the factors that have contributed to the expanded use of this punishment.
Figures and Statistics:
Saudi Arabia broke its previous records, executing 345 individuals in 2024, marking a 100% increase compared to 2023, which saw 172 executions—a historically grim and shocking figure. The details within these numbers suggest that this increase reflects a deliberate policy and a commitment to continuing executions.
Types of Executions:
Saudi Arabia claims that its judicial rulings are based on Islamic Sharia; however, analyses of its laws and verdicts indicate a reliance on selectively chosen and extreme interpretations of religious texts.
Taazir (Discretionary Punishment):
Taazir refers to a punishment for a crime or offense that has no fixed penalty or atonement in Sharia, meaning it is not predetermined by Islamic law. It is left to the ruler's discretion, based on the nature and circumstances of the crime. Taazir aims to achieve deterrence and reform. Saudi Arabia extensively employs Taazir to punish individuals for charges not explicitly defined in Sharia; that are not considered among the most serious under international law; including political accusations, expressing opinions, and drug-related offenses.
In 2024, 141 Taazir sentences were carried out, representing 40% of the total executions. This marks a significant increase compared to 2023, which was 54 Taazir sentences, accounting for 36.49% of executions. The rise reflects both a notable numerical and percentage increase.
Unspecified (Taazir):
In 2024, ESOHR documented 39 executions for which the Ministry of Interior did not specify the nature of the ruling. These accounted for 8.7% of all executions. This lack of disclosure is a new approach not previously observed in individual executions and is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to manipulate data related to the death penalty. Most of these rulings were issued by the Specialized Criminal Court for terrorism cases. The charges faced by the executed individuals ranged from harboring offenders to supporting extremist ideologies and participating in shootings—charges that typically result in Taazir death sentences.
Accordingly, based on the organization's monitoring, the total share of Taazir executions—both declared and unspecified—rose to 48.7%, an increase of more than 11% compared to 2023. This increase in executions that lack explicit Sharia justification highlights Saudi Arabia’s expansive use of the death penalty and the inadequacy of invoking Sharia to justify such actions.
Qisas (Retribution):
Qisas is the principle of proportional punishment and is one of the fixed penalties in Sharia law. It is a right granted to the victim's family, applied to achieve justice between the offender and the victim in crimes that result in the loss of life or physical harm. The offender is punished in kind, "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth," such as the killer is killed. Qisas is implemented only if conclusive evidence is available and the victim's family consents.
In 2024, 128 Qisas sentences were carried out, representing 37% of the total 345 executions. This compares to 2023, which recorded 66 Qisas sentences, accounting for 44.59% of the total executions.
Hadd (Prescribed Punishments):
Hadd refers to penalties fixed by Sharia law for specific offenses as a right of Allah. In 2024, 37 Hadd sentences were carried out, making up 10% of all executions. This is a decrease from 2023, which saw 50 Hadd executions, constituting 29% of the total.
Executions of Foreign Nationals:
In 2024, Saudi Arabia executed 207 Saudis and 138 foreign nationals, with foreigners accounting for 31% of all executions. This represents a significant increase compared to 2023, when 38 foreign nationals were executed, constituting 22% of the total. The nationalities of the executed foreign nationals were as follows: 17 Egyptians, 16 Syrians, 27 Yemenis, 8 Ethiopians, 3 Sudanese, 14 Nigerians, 3 Indians, 25 Pakistanis, 1 Sri Lankans, 17 Jordanians, 3 Afghans, 1 Filipinos, 1 Bangladeshis, 1 Eritrean, and 1 Kenyan.
The rising number of foreign nationals executed comes amid growing concerns about the severe violations faced by foreign workers in Saudi Arabia, including human trafficking. As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the World Cup, fears are mounting that such abuses may escalate.
With a lack of transparency in Saudi Arabia's handling of execution cases, tracking the cases of certain foreign nationals, including Egyptians and Jordanians, has revealed common violations. These include the absence of any role for consulates or embassies, denial of adequate legal defense for the accused, failure to appoint legal representation, disregard for defendants' arguments in court, and exposure to torture and ill-treatment.
While Saudi Arabia uses major sporting events, such as hosting the World Cup and the Winter Olympics, to bolster its international image as a progressive and open nation, FIFA accepted Saudi Arabia’s bid despite its failure to meet the required human rights standards in its proposal. Migrant workers' rights remain one of the most pressing concerns, with ongoing abuses and fears of further violations during preparations for the infrastructure needed to host the World Cup. Estimates suggest that migrant workers make up over 30% of Saudi Arabia’s population, employed in critical sectors such as construction and services.
Migrant workers' rights remain a pressing concern, with ongoing violations and fears of further abuses during World Cup preparations. Estimates suggest that migrant workers make up more than 30% of the population in Saudi Arabia, working in vital sectors such as construction and services.
Executions of Women:
In 2024, Saudi Arabia executed 9 women, marking the highest number of female executions in the country's history, representing a 50% increase compared to 2023, which saw 6 women executed.
According to the data, the executions of women were as follows: 3 Saudi nationals, 4 Nigerian nationals, 1 Ethiopian, and 1 Kenyan. The four Nigerian women faced charges related to drugs. Due to the ongoing lack of transparency, it is difficult to know the exact number of women currently facing the death penalty.
In this context, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, during its latest session in October 2024, reviewed Saudi Arabia's commitments and raised concerns about the fairness of trials, particularly for migrant women, who are explicitly excluded from protection under the labor law.
Distribution by Region:
The Ministry of Interior releases data on the locations of executions. According to official data, most executions took place in Riyadh, with 74 executions, followed by Mecca (68), Al-Jouf (39), Asir (38), the Eastern Province (35), Tabuk (31), Medina (16), Jazan (16), Najran (9), the Northern Borders (7), Ha'il (5), Qassim (4), Al-Baha (2), and the Eastern Borders (1). Charges: Saudi Arabia repeatedly asserts in international forums that the death penalty is reserved for the most serious crimes. In 2024, it accepted recommendations aimed at limiting the use of this punishment. However, in contrast to these claims, 2024 saw an expansion in the charges that led to executions. Along with the doubling of executions for drug-related offenses, there were executions for charges like merely "concealment," and dozens of executions were carried out for vague charges of treason. This expansion is one of the clearest indicators of Saudi Arabia's continued disregard for its international obligations and its broad use of the death penalty.
Charges
Saudi Arabia repeatedly asserts in international forums that executions in the country are limited to the most serious crimes, and in 2024, it accepted recommendations to limit the use of this punishment. In contrast to these claims, 2024 saw an expansion in the charges leading to executions. In addition to the doubling of drug-related executions, there were also executions for charges such as mere concealment, as well as dozens of executions for vague charges of treason. This expansion serves as one of the clearest indicators of Saudi Arabia's ongoing disregard for its international commitments and the continued use of the death penalty.
Drugs:
In 2024, Saudi Arabia carried out 122 executions of individuals convicted of drug-related offenses, compared to just two executions for drugs in 2023, which appeared to be a purge of prisoners on these charges.
Drug-related cases made up 35% of the total executions in 2024. Among the 122 individuals executed, 30 were Saudi nationals, and the remaining 77% were foreign nationals, distributed as follows: Syria: 16, Ethiopia: 2, Afghanistan: 3, Jordan: 17, Sudan: 1, Yemen: 10, Pakistan: 17, Egypt: 12, Nigeria: 14.
Saudi Arabia resumed executing individuals for drug offenses on May 11, 2024, after a nine-month hiatus. The issue of drug-related executions is one of the most significant areas highlighting Saudi Arabia’s inconsistency, confusion, and lack of trust in the promises made by the Saudi government, as well as the reforms that have been promoted in recent years. In January 2021, the Saudi Human Rights Commission issued a statement saying that the suspension of death sentences for drug offenses, which began in January 2020, was intended to give detainees accused of non-violent crimes a second chance. Additionally, in March 2022, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman confirmed that the death penalty would now only be applied for murder.
Despite this, on 10 November 2022, Saudi Arabia resumed executing individuals in drug-related cases after a hiatus of one year and eleven months, carrying out 20 executions in a single month. While it is impossible to determine the number of individuals on death row for drug offenses in Saudi Arabia due to the lack of transparency, it is likely that there are hundreds of cases that have not been tracked, particularly for foreign nationals.
Additionally, the organization recorded executions of 15 individuals on charges related to cannabis alone, with 2 of them being charged with trafficking this substance, i.e., selling it domestically. According to the organization's tracking, executions for cannabis trafficking alone had not been recorded in the past, indicating an expansion in executions related to drug offenses. Besides these charges not being among the most serious under international law, the inclusion of new substances that previously did not warrant the death penalty, the failure to use alternative penalties, and the rising numbers all confirm a lack of trust in the justice system in Saudi Arabia and a persistence in the death penalty without alternatives.
While it is difficult to predict the number of individuals currently facing the death penalty for drug offenses, the expected number is large. In May 2023, Saudi Arabia launched a wide-scale campaign against drugs, and the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights received information suggesting that arrests were arbitrary, with severe violations against those accused of drug use and trafficking, including appalling conditions in detention facilities, denial of basic rights to communicate with the outside world, and denial of the right to adequate self-defense, among other abuses.
Additionally, in 2024, ESOHR followed up on news regarding detainees in Tabuk prison, where over 29 individuals of Egyptian nationality are living in a state of panic after 10 Egyptians were executed within just five months. The UN Special Rapporteurs issued a statement on December 4, 2024, expressing concern over the clear discriminatory application of the death penalty against foreign nationals, who now account for 75% of all drug-related executions in 2024. They also referred to the cases of three Egyptian citizens who had been executed and called on the Saudi government to immediately halt the impending executions of three others from Egyptian and Jordanian nationalities.
Political Cases:
In 2024, Saudi Arabia carried out 50 executions for political charges, with the allegations ranging from harboring terrorists and communicating with them, adopting a terrorist ideology, sympathizing with those arrested in terrorism-related cases, espionage, to involvement in operations leading to shootings and the killing of security personnel. According to the Ministry of Interior's data, 31 of these cases involved charges of treason, 18 involved terrorism, and one person was executed solely for harboring a terrorist.
The death sentences for treason in 2024 were issued by the Specialized Criminal Court. In 2023, two individuals were executed for treason in military trials, one being a colonel and the other a first sergeant. No executions for treason were recorded in 2020 and 2022. In 2021, three individuals were executed for treason through discretionary sentences from the Specialized Criminal Court.
This concerning increase in the use of the treason charge adds to numerous indications and questions about the legitimacy and conditions of these trials. Treason is considered one of the vague political charges that lack transparency and human rights oversight, making it a potential tool for further repression and execution. Among those executed in these cases, two were of Yemeni nationality, and the rest were of Saudi nationality. The death sentences for these cases made up 14% of the total executions in 2024.
New Practices:
Additionally, in 2024, some new practices by Saudi Arabia emerged in cases involving detainees charged with terrorism or political crimes, including the concealment of the type of sentence in the Ministry of Interior's statement. Over the years of tracking execution cases, ESOHR had not observed the Ministry of Interior concealing the type of sentence in its official statements, a practice it implemented this year, hiding the type of sentence in 36 cases. Most of these sentences were issued by the Specialized Criminal Court, with the defendants facing charges ranging from harboring terrorists to supporting a terrorist ideology and shootings, charges that usually result in Taazir death sentences. Saudi Arabia had made several promises to limit executions with discretionary sentences, as these rely on the judge's discretion without a legal basis.
In addition to concealing the type of sentence, ESOHR observed 15 death sentences in political and terrorism-related cases, where the official statement indicated that the judgment was issued by the specialized court without specifying the sentence type, despite it being customary for these sentences to be issued by the Specialized Criminal Court, as indicated in previous official statements.
The executions in political cases were distributed across five regions: Al-Jawf, Riyadh, Asir, Makkah, and the Eastern Province. The organization also monitored an execution that brought together defendants accused of terrorism and treason from two different sectarian regions, and thus the two convicts faced separate trials, a practice that had only been monitored in the past in mass executions.
Since 2016, Saudi Arabia has carried out death sentences issued by the Specialized Criminal Court, which handles terrorism-related cases, but it has also, indiscriminately and without clear standards, included cases related to freedom of expression and participation in protests, which are criminalized as terrorism.
ESOHR tracked 229 executions carried out by Saudi Arabia from January 2016 to the end of February 2024, based on sentences issued by the Specialized Criminal Court and in mass executions, and conducted a statistical study based on the available information. The analysis revealed that 93 executions, or 40% of the total executions, targeted individuals from Qatif, in connection with events that occurred in the governorate since 2011, with executions carried out from January 2016 to February 2024.
In June 2024, Saudi Arabia executed Abdullah bin Ali Al-Muhaishi by Hadd punishment. According to the official statement, the charges against Al-Muhaishi matched those of dozens of men who were executed in Saudi Arabia due to their involvement in the movements that took place in the country. However, Al-Muhaishi was sentenced to Hadd (the Islamic punishments) unlike others who faced Taazir discretionary punishment. This first execution for Hadd in relation to the Qatif events came as part of the misleading narrative and manipulation after promises to limit the use of death penalties not mandated by Islamic law, as well as criticisms of Taazir discretionary death sentences based on the judge's discretion.
In addition to the execution for Hadd in this case, the organization noted fabrication and falsification by the Saudi government in the case of Abed Al-Majid Al-Nimr. According to the Ministry of Interior’s statement, the charges against Al-Nimr were related to his membership in a cell affiliated with al-Qaeda, despite his belonging to the Shia sect. The charges listed in the ruling resemble those typically leveled against defendants sentenced for involvement in events in Qatif, and do not include the alleged membership in al-Qaeda mentioned in the Ministry of Interior's statement, which is seen as a clear falsification of the truth.
Criminal Justice:
Trial Proceedings:
In addition to the high number of executions, an examination of the trial processes reveals severe violations of justice, eroding trust in judicial procedures. While it is not possible to fully monitor trials, tracking certain cases highlights violations that begin with arrest and persist until execution:
Torture and Ill-treatment: Saudi Arabia has failed to adequately address reports confirming that detainees facing execution are subjected to torture. Multiple sources have confirmed that many arrested individuals endured torture, including Egyptian detainees facing drug-related charges in Tabuk prison. Information received by the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights indicated that these detainees were subjected to solitary confinement and beatings to extract confessions. Several detainees testified about this before judges, but no investigations were conducted into these allegations. Two individuals were executed, while dozens remain at risk of execution at any moment.
In August 2024, Saudi Arabia executed Abed Al-Majid Al-Nimr. Court documents revealed that Al-Nimr testified during his trial about being tortured, which resulted in his hospitalization. He requested medical reports to support his claims. Despite the court receiving these reports, which confirmed his deteriorated health due to torture, no accountability measures were taken against those responsible. The court relied on confessions extracted under torture to issue its verdict.
Deprivation of the Right to Adequate Legal Defense: Saudi Arabia frequently asserts that it provides detainees with state-appointed lawyers. However, evidence confirms violations of the right to adequate self-defense in numerous cases. According to the organization’s tracking, individuals tried before the Specialized Criminal Court are often denied access to legal counsel until after their first court session. This effectively excludes lawyers from participating during the investigation phase. Additionally, many detainees reported having to defend themselves despite lacking knowledge of laws and rights. The family of Egyptian detainee Jamal Mohammed Suleiman, sentenced to death in a drug-related case, revealed that the state-appointed lawyer provided no assistance, forcing them to sell their property in Egypt to hire a private lawyer in Saudi Arabia.
In addition, the organization monitored a dangerous indicator in the case of Abed Al-Majed Al-Nimr, as according to the court papers, the Public Prosecution did not demand the death penalty in the indictment it submitted, but rather demanded the maximum penalty stipulated in Article 6 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law and the maximum penalty stipulated in Article 16 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law, and sentencing him to a severe Taazir discretionary penalty and a travel ban. On 19/03/1443, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Al-Nimr to nine years in prison and a travel ban. However, the Court of Appeal later escalated the sentence to the death penalty, even though the Public Prosecution had not originally demanded this. This demonstrates a blatant disregard for the right to life and deters defendants from exercising their right to appeal or defend themselves, further highlighting the absence of justice in the judicial system.
The Right to Communicate with Family and the Outside World: Reports indicate that many detainees, particularly foreigners, struggle to maintain contact with their families or the outside world. Solitary confinement can last for months, during which detainees are entirely cut off from external communication. Additionally, some detainees are denied regular family visits, correspondence, or phone calls, while the denial of visitation rights is often used as a tool for coercion and intimidation.
The Right to a Farewell: Saudi Arabia continues to deny families of death row inmates the right to say goodbye to their loved ones. According to the organization’s monitoring, the families of Aoun Abu Abdullah and Abed Al-Majid Al-Nimr learned of their executions through the media rather than being formally notified. Furthermore, these families were deprived of their right to hold funeral ceremonies or bury the deceased.
Specialized Criminal Court (SCC):
In 2024, the organization documented practices by Saudi authorities that included concealing the type of court involved in cases related to terrorism and political charges in Ministry of Interior statements. The charges in these cases confirm that the rulings were issued by the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC). This concealment of information in the Ministry’s statements is part of the manipulative tactics employed by the Saudi government, which became particularly prominent this year.
The Ministry of Interior's data indicated that 32 rulings were issued by the SCC, while the court type was omitted in 15 execution announcements. The organization views the continued issuance and execution of death sentences by this court, without any review, as a disregard for international legal opinions that have highlighted the violations associated with the SCC and its misuse of anti-terrorism laws.
Detention of bodies:
In 2024, Saudi Arabia continued its policy of detaining the bodies of individuals executed, while ignoring the questioning of the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on this issue. According to the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, Saudi Arabia is detaining at least 155 bodies, most of whom were killed in the events that took place in Qatif Governorate with unjust or extrajudicial rulings. Many families demanded their right to obtain the body and burial, but the authorities ignored them or threatened them, as they prevented the families from holding mourning ceremonies.
In addition, the organization’s follow-up of the cases of many foreigners who were executed confirms that their bodies were not returned to their countries without reason, which constitutes a violation of the families’ right to say goodbye.
Current Situation:
Information about the death penalty in Saudi Arabia remains scarce, surrounded by secrecy, and characterized by a lack of transparency. Amid the suppression of civil society and human rights defenders, it is exceedingly difficult to monitor trials, their fairness, and the number of individuals sentenced at various stages of litigation. This is compounded by the Saudi government’s failure to respond to requests from countries and embassies, as well as the frequent inadequacies of these entities in effectively tracking the cases of their citizens facing the death penalty.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights has managed to track several cases involving individuals currently facing the death penalty. According to the organization, 65 individuals are currently at risk of execution, with trials taking place before the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC).
Among those facing the death penalty are eight minors, whose trials have been deemed violations of international law and Saudi Arabia's legal obligations by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. These minors include Abdullah Al-Darazi, Jalal Al-Bad, Yousef Al-Munaisif, Ali Al-Mabyoq, Hassan Zaki Al-Faraj, Ali Hassan Al-Subaiti, Jawad Qurairis, and Mahdi Al-Mohsen. The Working Group has issued opinions asserting that their detentions are arbitrary and their sentences invalid, calling for their release. Human rights experts have repeatedly contacted Saudi authorities, criticizing their insufficient responses and denial that these detainees are minors, despite their birthdates and the charges against them proving otherwise.
In addition to the minors, dozens of young men face death sentences linked to events in Qatif. An analysis of these cases reveals severe violations, including torture, ill-treatment, and deprivation of the right to self-defense. Among them is Mohammed Al-Faraj, who faces execution for charges such as insulting the royal family by chanting critical slogans during protests, and Mohammed Labad, who was sentenced to death despite surrendering after promises of amnesty due to the absence of serious charges against him. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has also warned about Saudi Arabia’s arbitrary detention practices, calling for the release of Saud Al-Faraj, labeling his detention as arbitrary.
ESOHR has received information indicating that some death sentences have been overturned and retrials have been ordered for detainees linked to the Qatif protests, including minors. However, there is no way to track these retrials, nor is there information about investigations into the violations associated with the original trials, such as torture and ill-treatment. Additionally, there are no details about how cases involving minors are being handled.
Furthermore, the case of members of the Al-Huwaitat tribe—Shadli, Ibrahim, and Atallah Al-Huwaiti—remains pending before the Supreme Court. This follows the Specialized Criminal Appeals Court's endorsement of death sentences against them for their peaceful opposition to forced evictions and displacement for the NEOM city project. The Specialized Criminal Court sentenced them to death on vague charges, including their opposition to the project.
In addition, Saudi Arabia continues to stall in cases involving religious scholars and researchers, including Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda, researcher Hassan Al-Maliki, Dr. Ali Al-Omari, and Sheikh Awad Al-Qarni, who were arrested in 2017. The Public Prosecutor has been seeking their execution since 2018. According to the organization’s tracking of trial progress in Saudi Arabia, the prolonged duration of these initial court proceedings far exceeds the usual time frame, representing a flagrant violation of fair trial conditions due to unjustifiable delays.
Beyond cases in the Specialized Criminal Court, ESOHR has tracked four cases in criminal courts, including that of minor Abdullah Al-Huwaiti. It is worth noting that tracking cases involving individuals sentenced to death under Qisas laws for murder charges is particularly challenging. However, given the high execution rates, the number is likely in the hundreds. For instance, 158 individuals were executed for murder-related charges in 2024, the highest proportion of executions by type of charge.
Regarding drug-related charges, despite difficulties in tracking such cases and the persecution faced by families defending their relatives, the organization has identified 30 cases involving foreign nationals on death row for drug charges. Most of these individuals are Egyptians held in Tabuk Prison, subjected to severe violations amid fears that their executions could be carried out at any moment.
Conclusion:
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights views 2024 as a grim year for justice. Alongside a doubling of execution numbers, the scope of targeted societal groups has widened, reflecting a blatant disregard for their rights and lives.
Caught between harsh realities and unfulfilled promises, Saudi Arabia's practices not only reflect a complete disregard for the right to life, but also demonstrate a lack of confidence in the judicial system and an insistence on a bloody approach to repression.
Contrary to the promotional campaigns Saudi Arabia employs to craft its new image, the rampant and unprecedented executions of this year, coupled with disregard for international criticism and repeated hollow promises, confirm that the reality remains governed by the sword. The death penalty, supposedly reserved for the most extreme cases, continues to serve as a primary tool for punishment, intimidation, and political and social oppression.