The International Harm Reduction Organization (HRI) published its annual report on the death penalty for drug-related charges worldwide in the year 2023. The report indicated that 467 confirmed executions were recorded in 2023, including in countries such as Saudi Arabia.
The organization explained that there is a global increase in execution rates, by 44% compared to 2022 and 1450% compared to 2020.
The report clarified that among those executed for drug-related charges are individuals belonging to ethnic minorities as well as foreigners, confirming that these groups are more susceptible to execution.
The report relied on information and analysis from the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights regarding what was mentioned about Saudi Arabia. It stated that there are at least 3,000 individuals sentenced to death for drug-related charges worldwide, but it's impossible to access the number of those threatened in Saudi Arabia, with expectations that the number is high.
The report indicated that according to the announced figures, Saudi Arabia's execution rate decreased by 96% compared to the year 2023. However, it is likely for the number to be higher due to the lack of transparency and oversight.
The report clarified that in 2023, Saudi Arabia executed two individuals of foreign nationalities, one Jordanian and one Pakistani, and it is likely that the number is higher, especially with Saudi Arabia not fulfilling its commitments to halt death sentences for drug-related charges as it had previously announced.
The organization pointed out the adoption of two important UN documents in 2023. The first is a resolution by the Human Rights Council urging member states to restrict the death penalty to the most serious crimes, thus excluding drug offenses. In addition, the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights titled "Challenges to Human Rights in Addressing and Combating Aspects of the Global Drug Problem" affirms that drug-related crimes cannot under any circumstances be a basis for the death penalty.