Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) took power in 2017, executions in Saudi Arabia have surged, with at least 1,115 executions carried out between June 21, 2017, and October 9, 2024. Saudi Arabia carried out 330 executions this year, the highest in decades, despite de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman’s 2022 claim that the death penalty had been abolished, except for cases of murder, as part of his vision for a more open kingdom.

This increase marks a dramatic rise from 172 executions in 2023 and 196 in 2022, making 2024 the highest total ever recorded. The latest data, sourced from Reprieve and confirmed by Reuters, highlights a troubling trend: over 150 of the executions this year were for non-lethal crimes, which human rights groups argue violate international law.

A focus on drug-related offenses

A significant number of the executions were linked to alleged drug smuggling, particularly involving Captagon, an amphetamine-like substance flooding the market from Syria under the regime of Bashar al-Assad. In addition, some individuals were convicted of non-lethal terrorism—a charge often applied to those involved in anti-government protests. Human rights organizations contend that these charges are politically motivated.

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While public beheadings were once a common sight in Saudi town squares, these areas are now dominated by cafes and restaurants, erasing much of their violent history. “Saudi Arabia’s authorities are pursuing a relentless killing spree displaying a chilling disregard for human life while promoting an empty-worded campaign to rebrand their image,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

Contradicting statements on the death penalty

In March 2022, MBS announced that Saudi Arabia had “eliminated” the death penalty, except in cases mandated by Sharia law. However, in November 2022, the government broke its own promise by executing individuals for drug-related offenses, reversing a 2021 moratorium on such executions that had been imposed by the Saudi Human Rights Commission.

Surge in executions for drug-related offenses

By September 2024, Saudi Arabia had executed 53 people for drug-related offenses—a sharp increase from just two in 2023. This rise includes the execution of three foreign nationals from Syria and Nigeria between May and June. The surge has continued since July, with 38 of the 53 executed individuals being foreign nationals.

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Rise in foreign nationals and women among the executed

By mid-November, over 101 foreign nationals from 14 countries had been executed, according to a report from AFP. This number is three times higher than the 34 foreign nationals executed in both 2023 and 2022. Executions this year have involved individuals from countries including:

• 21 from Pakistan
• 20 from Yemen
• 14 from Syria
• 3 each from Sudan, India, and Afghanistan
• 1 each from Sri Lanka, Eritrea, and the Philippines

The European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR) also reported a record seven women executed in 2024, with three linked to drug offenses. The majority of these women were foreign nationals, predominantly migrant workers from Africa and Asia.

Global trends in executions and human rights concerns

In 2023, Amnesty International recorded at least 1,153 executions across 16 countries, a 31% increase from the 883 executions in 2022. However, the number of countries carrying out executions was the lowest on record, excluding China, where execution statistics are considered state secrets. The highest execution rates were observed in Iran, followed by Saudi Arabia.

In 2023, Iran accounted for 74% of global executions, with 853 people executed. Other countries with high execution rates included Saudi Arabia (172), Somalia (38), the US (24), and Iraq (16). Of these, only Saudi Arabia saw a slight decrease in executions compared to 2022. Additionally, the number of new death sentences surged by 20%, reaching a total of 2,428 in 2023, the highest number since 2018.

The crackdown on dissent and Vision 2030

As part of his Vision 2030 initiative, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been working to rebrand Saudi Arabia as a global hub for tourism and entertainment. However, this effort has been marred by human rights abuses, including the execution of minors and the use of torture to extract confessions. In 2022, two new organizations—the Presidency of State Security and the Public Prosecution Office—were created under royal decrees to suppress activists, further raising concerns about the kingdom’s treatment of dissent.

While the crown prince continues to invest billions to transform Saudi Arabia’s image, human rights organizations remain critical of the kingdom’s increasing reliance on the death penalty and its systematic violations of international law.