Saudi Arabia sets a record with at least 347 executions in 2025, raising international concerns over human rights and fair trial standards.

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Saudi Arabia executions reach unprecedented levels in 2025

By Caroline Hawley | Diplomatic Correspondent

Second Consecutive Record Year for executions in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has set a new record for executions for the second year running.
According to UK-based group Reprieve, at least 347 individuals have been put to death in 2025, surpassing the 345 executions recorded the previous year.
The organization, which monitors executions and supports clients on death row, called this the “bloodiest year of executions in the kingdom since monitoring began.”

The most recent executions include two Pakistani nationals convicted of drug-related offenses. Other victims this year have included journalists and two young men accused of crimes committed as minors. Five women have also been executed.

Executions Primarily for Non-Lethal Drug Offenses

Reprieve has highlighted that about two-thirds of those executed were convicted of non-lethal, drug-related crimes, a practice the United Nations has condemned as “incompatible with international norms and standards.” More than half of those executed were foreign nationals, reflecting what appears to be a broad “war on drugs.”

The Saudi authorities have not responded to media requests for comment regarding the ongoing rise in executions.

Human Rights Groups Speak Out

Jeed Basyouni, Reprieve’s head of death penalty work for the Middle East and North Africa, said, “Saudi Arabia is operating with complete impunity now. It’s almost making a mockery of the human rights system.” She describes torture and forced confessions as endemic to the country’s criminal justice system, calling the trend a “brutal and arbitrary crackdown” that disproportionately affects innocent and marginalized individuals.

Notable Cases and Methods

Among those executed was Egyptian fisherman Issam al-Shazly, arrested in 2021 and reportedly coerced into drug smuggling.
Reprieve noted that 96 executions this year were related to the drug hashish.

Since the Saudi authorities ended an unofficial moratorium on drug-related executions in late 2022, numbers have surged—a move described as “deeply regrettable” by the UN Human Rights Office.

Lack of Due Process and Impact on Families

According to Reprieve, family members often receive no prior notice about executions, are not provided bodies, and are left uninformed about burial locations.
The method of execution is not publicly revealed, but it is believed to be either beheading or firing squad.

The trauma also extends to those left behind; cellmates witness individuals they’ve known for years dragged away for execution, and families live in constant fear.

Children, Journalists, and Dissidents Among the Executed

This year’s executions included Abdullah al-Derazi and Jalal al-Labbad, both minors at the time of arrest, who were convicted after participating in protests and funerals for members of the country’s Shia minority. According to Amnesty International, their convictions relied on confessions allegedly obtained through torture during unfair trials. The UN had previously called for their release.

In June, journalist Turki al-Jasser was executed after being convicted of terrorism and high treason, based on alleged writings against the state. UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay called his execution a “chilling attack on freedom of expression and press freedom.”

Reporters Without Borders noted that al-Jasser is the first journalist executed under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also faced international scrutiny after the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Official Response and Ongoing Criticism

In response to concerns raised by the United Nations, Saudi authorities claim that human rights are upheld and that the death penalty is reserved for the “most serious crimes,” imposed only after all judicial processes are completed. However, as our comprehensive history of Saudi human rights issues details, these assurances are often challenged by international organizations and families of those affected.

In a letter sent in January 2025, Saudi officials also stated that their laws prohibit and punish torture, but multiple reports from international human rights groups allege widespread violations.

International Calls for Reform

Dr. Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, has called for an immediate moratorium on executions in Saudi Arabia, full compliance with international legal safeguards, proper legal and consular assistance for foreign nationals, prompt family notifications, the return of remains, and transparency of execution data for independent scrutiny.

Despite international condemnation, the drive to modernize Saudi Arabia’s economy through entertainment and sporting events continues, with few repercussions for human rights abuses.

For further detail on how nations compare on the death penalty and international norms, see the latest reports from Amnesty International.

Conclusion

The surge in executions in Saudi Arabia has raised serious questions about the nation’s commitment to international human rights and fair justice.
As the numbers climb, international organizations, families, and observers continue to call for reform, transparency, and adherence to global standards of due process.

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