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International Desk, May 3, 2025, Saudi Arabia has executed at least two individuals convicted of terrorism-related activities, bringing the total number of executions in the country to at least 100 this year, according to a statement from the Saudi Interior Ministry reported by AFP. The executions, carried out on Saturday, have drawn renewed criticism from international human rights organizations over the kingdom’s increasing use of the death penalty.
The ministry’s statement, shared on social media, confirmed that the two Saudi nationals were executed for joining a terrorist organization and receiving explosives training at foreign camps. The convictions followed extensive court hearings, where the charges were substantiated, leading to the issuance of death penalty verdicts.
According to AFP’s data, of the 100 executions in 2025 so far, 59 were related to drug offenses, with at least 43 of the executed being foreign nationals. Saudi Arabia imposes the death penalty for crimes such as murder, terrorism, drug trafficking, and smuggling. However, the rising number of executions, particularly for non-lethal offenses like drug crimes, has sparked widespread condemnation.
Zid Basiuni, head of the human rights organization Reprieve, criticized the international community for ignoring Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations despite the kingdom’s efforts to project a positive diplomatic image. “The result? Over 100 executions since January, more than half for non-lethal drug-related crimes,” Basiuni stated, noting that 345 executions were recorded in 2024.
Saudi Arabia resumed executions for drug-related offenses in late 2022 after a nearly three-year hiatus. AFP reports that 338 executions took place in 2024, nearly double the 170 in 2023 and significantly higher than the 196 in 2022. In March 2022, the kingdom faced global outrage after executing 81 people in a single day.
Amnesty International last month condemned the “alarming rise” in executions for drug-related crimes. Saudi Arabia remains one of the world’s leading executors, a practice that human rights activists argue undermines Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reforms, which aim to transform the kingdom into a more open and tolerant society. The country is investing heavily in tourism and sports, including plans to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, to diversify its oil-dependent economy.
Saudi authorities, however, maintain that the death penalty is essential for maintaining public order and is only carried out after exhausting all appeal processes.
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