In 2024, Saudi Arabia has significantly increased its executions of foreign nationals, with at least 101 individuals put to death by mid-November, according to reports from AFP. This figure marks a stark contrast to the previous years, where an average of 34 foreigners were executed annually in 2022 and 2023. The uptick has drawn global concern and scrutiny, as human rights groups highlight the risks faced by foreign defendants within the kingdom’s justice system.
The most recent execution occurred in Najran, where a Yemeni national was put to death after being convicted of drug smuggling. The Saudi Press Agency reported that his death was part of the kingdom’s broader crackdown on narcotics trafficking, a crime punishable by capital punishment under Saudi law. However, this surge in executions is not limited to drug offenses alone, as crimes such as terrorism and murder also carry the death penalty in the kingdom.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have long raised concerns over the fairness of trials in Saudi Arabia, especially for foreign defendants. “Foreigners are the most vulnerable group,” said Taha al-Hajji, the legal director of the European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR). He added that foreign nationals often face significant barriers, such as limited access to legal representation and court documents, which can hinder their ability to mount a fair defense.
According to al-Hajji, this year’s executions already represent the highest number of foreign nationals put to death in a single year. “This is the largest number of executions of foreigners in one year. Saudi Arabia has never executed 100 foreigners in a year,” he noted. The kingdom’s commitment to Sharia law and its strict application of the death penalty are central to this alarming trend.
The demographic breakdown of those executed includes nationals from countries such as Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, Nigeria, Egypt, Jordan, and Ethiopia. Notably, 21 Pakistanis, 20 Yemenis, and 14 Syrians were among those put to death. This broad range of nationalities highlights the international scope of Saudi Arabia’s executions, which has sparked diplomatic tensions in some cases. Foreign governments and human rights advocates argue that many of these individuals were convicted under dubious circumstances, with limited access to a fair trial.
Amnesty International and other watchdogs have also pointed to Saudi Arabia’s resumption of executions for drug-related offenses in 2022 as a significant factor driving the rise in executions. In fact, out of the 274 executions reported by AFP for 2024, 92 have been linked to drug trafficking, with 69 of those involving foreign nationals. This marks a sharp increase following a three-year moratorium on the execution of drug offenders that was lifted just two years ago.
Foreign diplomats and human rights groups continue to express deep concerns over the fairness of the legal process in Saudi Arabia. “Foreign defendants are often victims of major drug dealers and subjected to a series of violations from the moment of their arrest until their execution,” al-Hajji stated, emphasizing that the lack of adequate legal protections makes it increasingly difficult for foreign nationals to receive a just trial. As Saudi Arabia’s execution rate continues to rise, international calls for reform and greater transparency in the judicial process are intensifying.
Saudi Arabia’s rising execution figures place it among the countries with the highest death tolls worldwide, following only China and Iran in the total number of executions. With the kingdom’s execution rate showing no signs of slowing, the global community is left grappling with the ethical and legal implications of such practices, especially in relation to foreign nationals.
