Saudi Arabia has executed more than 100 foreign nationals this year, a sharp increase that rights groups describe as unprecedented. According to an AFP tally based on state media reports, the

number has surged to 101 as of this weekend.

The latest execution, reported by the official Saudi Press Agency, occurred in Najran and involved a Yemeni national convicted of drug smuggling. This marks a significant rise compared to the 34 foreigners executed in both 2023 and 2022.

The European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR), based in Berlin, confirmed that 2024 has seen the highest number of foreign executions in Saudi Arabia’s history. “This is the largest number of executions of foreigners in one year,” said Taha al-Hajji, ESOHR’s legal director.

Saudi Arabia’s frequent use of the death penalty has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations, which argue it undermines the kingdom’s efforts to present itself as a modernizing nation open to international tourism and investment. Amnesty International ranked Saudi Arabia third globally in executions in 2023, behind only China and Iran.

The rising execution numbers contradict statements made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2022. In an interview with The Atlantic, he claimed that the death penalty had been largely abolished, except for murder cases or instances where a person posed a threat to multiple lives.

As of Sunday, Saudi Arabia had carried out a total of 274 executions in 2024, surpassing its previous annual records of 196 in 2022 and 192 in 1995. A significant portion of this year’s executions—92 so far—were for drug-related offenses, with 69 of those involving foreigners.

The nationalities of those executed include 21 Pakistanis, 20 Yemenis, 14 Syrians, 10 Nigerians, nine Egyptians, eight Jordanians, and seven Ethiopians. Smaller numbers include individuals from Sudan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Eritrea, and the Philippines.

Activists and diplomats highlight the challenges foreign defendants face in the Saudi justice system, including limited access to court documents and legal support. "Foreigners are the most vulnerable group," said ESOHR’s Hajji. Many are victims of major drug traffickers and experience violations from arrest through execution.

Jeed Basyouni, head of Middle East anti-death penalty advocacy for Reprieve, called the situation an “unprecedented execution crisis.” Families of those on death row are living in fear as the total number of executions this year is on track to exceed 300.

Saudi Arabia’s reliance on the death penalty, often carried out by beheading, continues to clash with its aspirations to reshape its international image. Critics argue that its justice system is perpetuating violence, particularly through its treatment of drug offenders and vulnerable foreign nationals. Photo by Mohamod Fasil, Wikimedia commons.