Saudi Arabia has conducted a “horrifying” number of executions for drug-related crimes over the past decade, with the majority being foreign nationals, reports Amnesty International.
Record Executions Amidst International Silence
Nearly 600 individuals have been executed in the last 10 years for drug trafficking offenses. Three-quarters of these individuals are foreigners from countries such as Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, and Egypt. After a temporary moratorium between 2021 and 2022, executions for these crimes have reached record levels, with 122 executions in 2024 alone and another 118 by the end of last month.
Amnesty International warns about a lack of international attention to judicial processes it describes as “extremely unfair” and demonstrating a “frightening disregard for human life,” emphasizing that the number of executions is expected to rise further.
Dana Ahmed, a Middle East researcher for Amnesty, stated: “We are witnessing a truly terrifying trend, with foreign nationals being executed at an alarming rate for crimes that should not even carry the death penalty.”
Vulnerable Victims and Lack of Due Process
The organization highlights that many of the convicted foreigners are “deceived and exploited” after being drawn into drug trafficking during their migration for work, lured by promises of low payments that do not justify the risk of a death sentence.
One emphasized case involves seven Ethiopian and one Somali national, who face execution for trafficking 153 kg of cannabis, estimated to be worth around $3.8 million. According to their testimonies in court documents, they were recruited with the promise of only $267 per person.
Many of the foreigners at risk of execution have limited educational backgrounds and unfavorable socio-economic conditions, making them more vulnerable to exploitation and unstable in legal representation in Saudi Arabia. Amnesty reported a lack of access to lawyers, absence of consular assistance, and a lack of effective interpretation during trials.
In at least four cases, convicts reported torture or other inhumane treatment during detention to extract confessions. Many were unaware of the status of their appeals or the time of their execution, learning only a day before they were put to death.
Kristine Beckerle, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, urged: “The death penalty is the cruelest, most inhuman, and degrading punishment. Saudi Arabia’s international allies must exert urgent pressure to stop this wave of executions and to implement international human rights obligations.”
Saudi authorities have been contacted for comment but have not provided a response.
