Riyadh, November 18, 2024- Saudi Arabia has executed over 100 foreign nationals in 2024, including 21 Pakistanis, marking a significant rise in the use of the death penalty for foreign nationals. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the most recent execution involved a Yemeni national convicted of drug smuggling in the Najran region.
The total of 101 foreign executions this year far exceeds previous years, where only 34 foreign nationals were executed annually in 2022 and 2023. The European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR) described the increase as unprecedented and raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s legal processes, particularly for foreign defendants.
Human rights organizations have criticized Saudi Arabia’s extensive use of the death penalty, viewing it as inconsistent with the kingdom’s efforts to improve its international image and attract tourism and investment.
Saudi Arabia ranked third globally in executions in 2023, behind China and Iran. This year, the kingdom has carried out 274 executions overall, with a significant number linked to drug offenses.
The ESOHR has highlighted the vulnerabilities of foreign defendants, many of whom face difficulties in securing fair trials. They often lack adequate legal representation and face language barriers, complicating their defense. Additionally, the organization noted that many foreign nationals are exploited by larger drug trafficking networks, further entangling them in legal challenges from arrest to execution.
The rising number of executions has drawn international criticism, with calls for greater transparency and reforms in Saudi Arabia’s judicial system.
