Saudi Arabia executed 340 people in 2025, breaking its previous annual record, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
The total figure was announced after the Saudi government reported the execution of three individuals yesterday (Monday, December 15). The Saudi Interior Ministry stated that these individuals were convicted of murder and their death sentences were carried out in the city of Mecca.
According to AFP, 338 people were executed in Saudi Arabia last year. Some international organizations, including Amnesty International, reported that Saudi Arabia executed 345 people in 2024.
Nadine Abdelaziz, an official from the British organization ALQST, told the Middle East Eye that: “The fact that the Saudi authorities are on the verge of surpassing last year’s record high number of executions demonstrates a horrific disregard for the right to life and a repeated ignoring of calls from UN experts and civil society.”
She added: “The executions have followed severely flawed trials, including those involving confessions extracted under torture. Furthermore, some individuals were minors at the time of the alleged offense.”
The majority of this year’s executions (232 cases) were related to drug offenses. Several others were executed on charges of involvement in terrorism.
At the end of 2022, Saudi Arabia resumed the execution of drug-related sentences after a suspension of approximately three years. Since then, most of those executed have been foreign nationals.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has executed two young men who were under the legal age of 18 at the time of committing the alleged crimes. This action is contrary to international law.
