Saudi Arabia executes eight people related to drug charges

Saudi Arabia has executed eight people in a single day, state media said, amid a surge in the use of the death penalty in the Gulf monarchy particularly over drug-related convictions.

The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that four Somalis and three Ethiopians were executed on Saturday (August 2, 2025) in the southern region of Najran “for smuggling hashish into the kingdom”.

“One Saudi man was executed for the murder of his mother,” SPA said.

Since the beginning of 2025, Saudi Arabia has executed 230 people, according to an AFP tally of official reports. Most of those executions – 154 people – were on drug-related charges. The pace of executions puts the kingdom on track to surpass last year’s record of 338 instances of capital punishment.

Analysts link the spike to the kingdom’s “war on drugs” launched in 2023, with many of those first arrested only now being executed following their legal proceedings and convictions.

Saudi Arabia resumed executions for drug offences at the end of 2022, after suspending the use of the death penalty in narcotics cases for around three years. It executed 19 people in 2022, two in 2023, and 117 in 2024 for narcotics-related crimes, according to the AFP tally.

Activists say the kingdom’s continued embrace of capital punishment undermines the image of a more open, tolerant society that is central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform agenda.

Saudi authorities say the death penalty is necessary to maintain public order and is only used after all avenues for appeal have been exhausted.

Harsh Justice: Saudi Arabia Executes Eight Amid Surge in Drug-Related Death Sentences

In a controversial move spotlighting the kingdom’s intensified “war on drugs,” Saudi Arabia executed eight individuals in a single day—each death stirring debate over justice, human rights, and the country’s international image.

The Executions: A Stark Statistic

According to official state media via the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), seven of the eight executed were foreign nationals—four Somalis and three Ethiopians—convicted for smuggling hashish across the border into the kingdom’s southern Najran region. The eighth was a Saudi man executed for murdering his mother.www.ndtv.com

This grim tally feeds into a broader pattern: as of mid-2025, Saudi Arabia has carried out 230 executions, with 154 linked to drug offences, marking a steep rise in capital punishment for non-violent crimes.The Economic Timeswww.ndtv.com

The Bigger Picture: Enforcement and Escalation

Since lifting a three-year suspension on drug-related executions in late 2022, Saudi Arabia has dramatically ramped up its use of the death penalty:

• 117 executions for narcotics in 2024 alone, up from just 2 in 2023.The Economic Times

• According to Amnesty International, nearly one-third of all executions between 2014 and mid-2025 were for drug-related crimes.Amnesty International

• Of those executed for drugs, approximately 75% were foreign nationals—often from countries like Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, and Egypt.The GuardianAmnesty International

Amnesty warns that 2024 saw the highest number of executions in over three decades, with 345 people executed, mostly for non-violent drug offenses. By mid-2025, 180 executions had already taken place.AP NewsAmnesty International

Human Rights Under Scrutiny

International human rights groups have raised grave concerns regarding the fairness of these convictions:

• Trials marred by legal deficiencies: Many foreign defendants reportedly lacked effective legal representation, consular support, and access to translation.Amnesty International+1

• Allegations of torture-tainted confessions: Cases documented include claims of forced statements under duress, often ignored by courts.Amnesty International

• Late or no notification to families, with bodies frequently withheld post-execution—denying families proper closure.Amnesty International

Amnesty termed the trend “truly horrifying,” especially as international human rights norms reserve the death sentence only for the “most serious crimes”, typically involving intentional killing—not drug offenses.Amnesty InternationalThe Guardian

Balancing Vision 2030 and Capital Punishment

Saudi authorities maintain that the death penalty deters criminal behavior and preserves public order. They also contend that due process, including avenues for appeal, is guaranteed.The Economic TimesWikipedia

However, critics argue this enforcement drive starkly contrasts with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reforms, aimed at creating a more open, modern state.The Economic TimesAP News

Final Thoughts

The execution of eight people in a single day—mostly foreign nationals convicted of drug smuggling—sheds light on Saudi Arabia’s expanding use of capital punishment for non-violent crimes. Legal experts and human rights groups warn of systemic flaws: unfair trials, lack of transparency, and the targeting of vulnerable populations.