Saudi Arabia has executed 100 people from the beginning of 2024 to July 15th, representing almost one execution every two days. This is a 42% increase compared to the same period in 2023, indicating that this year might be more deadly than the previous one, which recorded 172 executions announced by the Ministry of Interior.
According to the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights monitoring 100 executions in 196 days demonstrate the Saudi government's insistence on using the death penalty extensively, in violation of international laws and its official commitments.
ESOHR’s tracking lists only three individuals facing imminent execution, indicating an increase in internal suppression and lack of transparency, alongside the intimidation of families. Additionally, seven of the executions were carried out against individuals from the Qatif region, accused of terrorism. ESOHR has documented the extensive use of this penalty against individuals from this region in the wake of the protests it witnessed.
The increase in numbers was not the only notable feature of the first hundred executions. Since the beginning of 2024, ESOHR has recorded several alarming facts that reveal a new pattern in the government's approach to this penalty.
Numbers:
According to the information published by the Ministry of Interior, 98 of those executed were men, while two were women. The nationalities of the executed individuals were as follows: 74 Saudis, 8 Yemenis, 4 Ethiopians, 6 Pakistanis, 3 Syrians, 1 Sri Lankan, 1 Nigerian, 1 Jordanian, 1 Indian, and 1 Sudanese.
Regarding the charges, 66 detainees faced charges of murder, while the remaining charges were distributed between terrorism and drugs. The types of sentences were divided as follows: 11 discretionary sentences “Taazir”, 15 “Hudud” sentences, 6 “Hirabah” sentences, 19 unspecified in the statement but likely discretionary “Taazir”, and 53 retributive justice “Qisas”.
Hidden Information:
By tracking the information published by the Saudi Ministry of Interior through the Saudi Press Agency regarding the executions carried out, the type of sentence executed was not mentioned in 19 cases. This lack of detail has only been observed in statements concerning mass execution rulings. It is likely that the hidden sentences are discretionary “Taazir” as the charges relate to terrorism, harboring fugitives, and shooting, which are vague charges often used against political detainees as well.
Additionally, the Ministry of Interior's statements unusually concealed the type of court that issued the sentence in two cases, where the defendants also faced charges related to terrorism. Therefore, it is most likely that these sentences were issued by the Specialized Criminal Court, which deals with terrorism cases.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has faced numerous criticisms for the Specialized Criminal Court, which has issued arbitrary sentences against protesters and opinion detainees, including death sentences. Official promises had also addressed discretionary death penalties, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman repeatedly promising to limit their use. Hence, the organization views the deliberate concealment of information as a new form of manipulation by Saudi Arabia to evade its commitments and continue using the death penalty as a tool.
Most Serious Charges:
The 100 executions carried out since the beginning of 2024 confirm Saudi Arabia's insistence on violating international law which emphasizes limiting death sentences to the most serious charges.
7% of the executions were of individuals who faced drug-related charges. In 2021, Saudi Arabia announced a halt in executing such sentences to give individuals facing serious charges a new chance. Nearly two years later, Saudi Arabia has resumed executing individuals on drug charges. بعد عامين Recently, during the Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council, Saudi Arabia rejected recommendations to reinstate the halt without providing an explanation. The organization has documented severe violations faced by detainees on drug charges, including torture, ill-treatment, and denial of adequate defense rights.
In addition to drug charges, Saudi Arabia has carried out 22 executions this year for charges ranging from terrorism to harboring terrorists and shooting. International law stipulates that the death penalty should be limited to intentional murder charges, following trials that meet all justice conditions.
Despite the lack of transparency and intimidation preventing the tracking of trials and case details, Saudi Arabia has consistently used vague terrorism charges against political detainees. The previously observed pattern shows severe violations of justice conditions in the trials of these cases.
Beyond the 100 Executions:
ESOHR believes that the execution of 100 people within the first 196 days of 2024 signals a bloodier year ahead and confirms Saudi Arabia's determination to use executions as both punishment and a means of intimidation.
The organization points out that these statistics increase the risk to the lives of 69 individuals whose cases it is monitoring. These individuals are facing unfair trials marred by torture, ill-treatment, and deprivation of basic rights. Among them are 9 minors, 8 of whom are facing discretionary (ta'zir) sentences.
ESOHR considers that tracking the execution rate in Saudi Arabia reveals the true state of human rights in the country, which the government attempts to obscure through whitewashing, manipulation, and information concealment.