Archive · 8 Aug 2025
Saudi Arabia's Surge in Executions, Mostly Drug Related, Raises Concerns
Saudi Arabia is executing a large number of people, mostly for drug crimes, despite promises to reduce the death penalty.
Many of those executed are foreigners who may not have the same legal help.
The judges have a lot of power to decide sentences, and they're still using it, even when the crime isn't that serious.
Even though the government says it's fighting drugs, the drug trade, including a drug called Captagon, is still happening.
Human rights groups are worried about this.
Saudi Arabia has executed 180 people in the first six months of 2025, many for drug-related offenses.
This contradicts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's past statements to limit the death penalty.
Foreign nationals are disproportionately affected, often lacking adequate legal support.
Tazir-based executions, where judges have sentencing discretion, account for nearly half of all executions.
Despite the 'war on drugs,' drug trafficking and seizures, including Captagon, persist in Saudi Arabia.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia, foreign nationals, and human rights groups are involved.
- What
- Saudi Arabia has increased executions, with many for drug offenses, despite prior promises to limit the death penalty.
- When
- Executions rose in 2024 (345) and continue to increase in 2025 (180 in the first half).
- Where
- Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The government cites a 'war on drugs', however, executions contradict prior statements on the use of the death penalty and international law.
Human Rights Concerns
Saudi Government
Justification for Executions
Human Rights Concerns
Human rights organizations express concerns about the increasing executions, particularly for drug-related offenses that do not meet international standards for capital punishment.
Saudi Government
The Saudi government maintains that executions are part of a necessary war on drugs and that sentences are in accordance with their laws and values.
- Total Executions (Jan 2014-June 2025)
- 1,816
- Drug-related Executions (2014-2025)
- 597
- Share of drug-related executions
- 32.9%
- Tazir-based executions (Jan 2014-June 2025)
- 862
- Executions (Jan-June 2025)
- 180
- Executions in June 2025
- 46