The serious human rights issues raised in Saudi Arabia due to the execution proactices lack transparency. Many reports clearly highlight that convicted individuals face many complexities during their arrest and trial. They don’t even have the opportunity to prove themselves right. Furthermore, there are many documented cases of torture and mistreatment at the time of their detention. In addition, the Egyptian consulate or embassy has not been involved in these cases. This absence raises serious concerns about the defendants’ rights and due process.
In 2024, the report was explored by the Ministry of Interiors. According to it, the executions related to drug charges have included people from a wide range of nationalities. The countries involved were Saudi, Egyptian, Syrian, Jordanian, Pakistani, Afghan, Ethiopian, Sudanese, Yemeni, and Nigerian.
This diverse range of nationalities highlights the broad and international scope of these practices, emphasizing the widespread impact and the need for scrutiny and reform in how these executions are handled.
However, there is no clear information about how many people have been sentenced to death. But the evidence highlights that people from different nations are imprisoned. This arrest is due to their involvement in drug-related offenses. The lack of transparency and fairness in how these cases are handled makes the arrested people unable to give an explanation about their situation.
The recent pattern of executions for drug-related crimes exposes a concerning shift.
There was a notable suspension of these executions from January 2020 to November 2022, a period during which no formal announcements were made. According to Saudi Human Rights Commissions, these suspensions aim to provide another change to individuals involved in non-violent crimes. Despite this, statements from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March 2022 indicated a reversal of this policy, suggesting that the death penalty would again be predominantly applied to drug offenses and not just limited to murder.
The inconsistency in policy raises many questions. Is the Saudi judicial system fair and stable? The shift in the policy clearly highlights the true facts about how capital punishment is applied and signals potential concerns about human rights and judicial integrity in the country.
Back to November 2022, when Saudi Arabia resumed executions for drug offenses. This nation executes 20 people just in one month. They did not provide any reason or explanation for this decision. After this, they take a pause from August 2023 to May 2024. But now the kingdom has restarted these executions.
Exploring 2024 execution data of Saudi Arabia
By analyzing the 2024 execution data, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of executions. Almost there is a 72% increment when compared to 2023 data. In August 2024, the number of executions had reached 167. This significant rise underscores a dramatic escalation in the use of the death penalty, particularly for drug-related crimes, indicating a more aggressive stance in judicial enforcement.
In drug offenses, the increment in the executions clearly highlights that officials are unable to fulfill their promises and breach international laws. According to international guidelines, the death penalty is only allowed in severe crimes and demands strict conditions. But the current atmosphere in Saudi Arabia exposes that this nation has not honored its previous commitment to halt executions for drug-related crimes. It needs to update its laws to fulfill the requirements of international rules.
Different organizations are forcing the Saudi officials to immediately restart its promised pause on these executions. They are also urging the nation to reform its legal system.
The ongoing legal confusion and mental suffering of those facing the death penalty are primarily due to the Saudi authorities and the governments of countries like Egypt, whose citizens are being executed. This situation underscores the urgent need for better adherence to human rights laws and increased accountability.