Concerns in Saudi Arabia after over 305 executions in 2024

Saudi Arabia continues to execute more people

International Human Rights organisations have widely condemned Saudi Arabia for its penalty laws which 309 individuals being executed in 2024.

In a rather disturbing turn of events, some individuals have even suffered executions for attending funeral services. Meanwhile, in 2023 172 people were executed for various offences with the figures even rising to 309 as at December 8, 2024.

According to the data released by the Saudi Press Agency, 61 percent of the executed individuals were Saudis while 120 of them were foreign nationals from Asia and Africa.

81 foreigners including Africans and Asians were sentenced to death penalty and executed for drug-related offences.

Saudi Arabia has for years been among the countries carrying out the highest number of executions in the world.

Despite a pledge in 2018 from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to reduce use of the death penalty, the rate of executions has continued to soar, apart from a relative lull during the coronavirus pandemic