- Saudi Arabia executed eight people in a single day, including four Somalis, three Ethiopians, and one Saudi national.
- Executions linked to drug-related crimes have soared, with 230 carried out so far in 2025 alone.
- The pace suggests the kingdom may exceed last year’s record of 338 executions.
- Saudi officials defend the practice as essential for maintaining public order.
- Human rights groups say it undermines Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s modernization campaign.
The Big Picture
Saudi Arabia has executed eight people in a single day, according to The New Arab, intensifying global scrutiny over the kingdom’s escalating use of the death penalty. Four Somalis and three Ethiopians were executed in Najran on Saturday for drug trafficking, specifically for smuggling hashish. In a separate case, a Saudi man was executed for murdering his mother, state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
What’s New
The latest executions bring the total number to 230 so far in 2025, based on tallies compiled by AFP. Among those, 154 were related to drug charges, signaling a renewed crackdown on narcotics following the resumption of capital punishment in such cases in late 2022. This puts the Gulf monarchy on pace to surpass last year’s record of 338 executions.
Execution Trend and Legal Backdrop
The uptick is widely attributed to Saudi Arabia’s intensified “war on drugs” that began in 2023. Analysts believe many of the recent executions stem from earlier arrests whose legal processes have now concluded. Prior to 2022, the kingdom had paused executions for narcotics-related offenses for nearly three years.
What Critics Say
Human rights activists argue the rise in executions directly contradicts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030—an ambitious plan to portray Saudi Arabia as a modern, reform-oriented society. Critics see the heavy-handed approach to drug offenses as regressive, particularly when defendants are often foreign nationals without access to fair trials.
Government’s Position
Saudi authorities maintain that capital punishment is implemented only after exhaustive legal reviews and is essential for preserving social stability and deterring crime. Officials argue that its judicial system adheres to Islamic law and does not apply the death sentence arbitrarily.
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