Surge in Executions: Over one hundred Foreigners Executed in Saudi Arabia in 2024
Saudi Arabia has reached a grim milestone in 2024, executing over a hundred overseas nationals, mainly for drug-related offenses. This alarming determine represents a almost threefold enlarge in contrast to the 34 overseas executions stated in each 2022 and 2023, as per an evaluation by way of AFP.
Record-Breaking Numbers in 2024
The European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR), primarily based in Berlin, has labeled this year’s foreigner execution be counted as “unprecedented.” Taha al-Hajji, ESOHR’s prison director, highlighted that Saudi Arabia has by no means earlier than finished this many overseas nationals in a single year.
Breakdown of Executed Foreign Nationals
The finished persons hailed from a vast vary of countries, with the majority coming from Pakistan, Yemen, and Syria:
Pakistan: 21 folks
Yemen: 20 men and women
Syria: 14 persons
Nigeria: 10 folks
Egypt: nine people
Others protected nationals from Jordan, Ethiopia, Sudan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Eritrea, and the Philippines.
A Broader Trend of Increasing Executions
As of November 2024, Saudi Arabia has done 274 individuals, marking the perfect annual count number in over three decades. This surpasses the 196 executions in 2022 and the preceding report of 192 in 1995.
Resumption of Drug-Related Death Penalties
The steep upward jostle in executions follows the 2022 give up of a three-year moratorium on the dying penalty for drug-related offenses. Of the ninety two drug-related executions pronounced this year, sixty nine had been overseas nationals.
Challenges for Foreign Defendants
Human rights companies argue that overseas nationals face massive hurdles in acquiring truthful trials. Many lack get entry to to ample criminal representation, court docket documents, and translators for the duration of their trials. Taha al-Hajji pointed out that overseas defendants are frequently victims of drug cartels and go through violations from arrest via execution.
Contradictions with Reform Narratives
Saudi Arabia’s growing use of the dying penalty contrasts sharply with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2022 statements that the kingdom was once limiting executions to instances of homicide or threats to more than one lives.
International Criticism
Saudi Arabia, ranked 1/3 globally for executions in 2023 after China and Iran (Amnesty International), has confronted mounting criticism from human rights advocates. Activists argue the excessive execution quotes undermine efforts to promote the kingdom as a innovative hub for world tourism and investment.
As Saudi Arabia continues its speedy tempo of executions, questions occur about its dedication to aligning judicial practices with world human rights standards. Activists and diplomats are urging the kingdom to revisit its use of capital punishment and tackle systemic problems affecting susceptible overseas defendants.
