According to a count by Agence France-Presse, at least 338 death row inmates were executed in 2024 in Saudi Arabia. A record for this monarchy to which Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salman is nevertheless working to give a modern and reformist image.
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A ” execution frenzy “. In a press release published Thursday, January 2, the NGO Reprieve and the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR) denounce the record number of death sentences carried out in Saudi Arabia in 2024. According to an AFP count based on official data, at least 338 death row inmates were executed last year in the country. The two human rights organizations report “ of at least 345 » executions.
“ Death row in Saudi Arabia is a black box. There is no transparency, we have no idea what is going on. People are convicted and executed without ever speaking to a lawyer. Since Covid, executions have been carried out in prison, secretly. The bodies are not returned to the families. So we don’t know how the people were killed. », Notes Jeed Basyouni, Middle East representative of Reprieve, speaking to RFI.
According to Amnesty International, which has been counting executions in this country since 1990 following a rigorous application of Islamic law, the highest tolls until then were 196 executions in 2022 and 192 in 1995. The kingdom is the country which executed the more prisoners in the world in 2023 after China and Iran, according to the NGO, with 170 executions, according to the AFP count. “ We don’t know what’s legal or not. You can be executed for something that is not clearly stated in the law. It’s totally arbitrary. Everyone is in constant danger “, warns Jeed Basyouni.
Of those executed in 2024, 117 had been convicted of drug charges, including some for simple possession of hashish. On Wednesday, January 1, again, the Saudi Ministry of the Interior announced the execution of six Iranians in the east of the kingdom to have “ smuggling hashish », without specifying the date.
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More than 1,000 executions in eight years
Riyadh’s application of the death penalty is criticized by human rights defenders who consider it excessive and out of step with the kingdom’s efforts to present a modern and reformist image. Saudi Arabia has carried out more than 1,000 executions since King Salman came to power in 2015, according to a report published in early 2023 by Reprieve and ESOHR.
“ Mohammed bin Salman said it had reformed the Saudi judicial system, which would now be aligned with international law regarding the death penalty. It was proven to be a lie, remarks Jeed Basyouni, of the NGO Reprieve. He said he ended the death penalty for children, which was also a lie. We know that children are on death row in Saudi Arabia. He said the death penalty would no longer be used for drug crimes. Another lie. You only need to scratch a little beneath the surface to see that Mohammed bin Salman does not keep his word. »
Riyadh, engaged in an ambitious reform policy led by its crown prince, seeks to attract tourists and sports competitions, and will host the 2034 World Cup. “ What I would like to see is international leaders speaking out more about Saudi Arabia’s actions. But unfortunately, what we see is that English, French and American leaders give priority to investments rather than speaking out on human rights. », Regrets Jeed Basyouni.