Saudi Arabia Sets New Record for Most Executions in a Year
Execution Figures for 2024
Saudi Arabia has executed 213 people in 2024, marking the highest number of executions in a single year in the kingdom's history. This comes as the country is vying for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The previous highest number of executions was 196 in 2022, followed by 184 in 2019, as reported by the London-based rights group Reprieve, which tracks the death penalty globally. Harriet McCulloch, deputy director of Reprieve, stated that while global attention is focused on other issues in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is executing a large number of death row inmates.
Record Broken in First Nine Months
McCulloch added that Saudi Arabia surpassed its previous record for the most executions in a year within the first nine months of 2024. The 213 executions carried out so far have put death row prisoners at a higher risk than ever before, with their families anxiously waiting for news about their loved ones' fate.
Executions Under Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman
The executions are being carried out under the government of Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, the kingdom’s prime minister and de facto leader, who had pledged in a 2018 interview to reduce capital punishment. Despite this, Saudi Arabia remains one of the world’s most prolific executioners. A spokesperson for Reprieve informed Middle East Eye that at least 1,115 executions have been carried out under Mohammed bin Salman’s rule between 21 June 2017 and 9 October 2024.
Execution Rate Almost Doubled Since 2015
A joint report by the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR) and Reprieve in 2023 revealed that Riyadh’s execution rate has almost doubled since King Salman and his son, Mohammed bin Salman, came to power in 2015. Between 2015 and 2022, executions increased by 82 percent.
Saudi Arabia's Candidacy for HRC
The HRC is set to hold elections for its 2025-2027 term on Wednesday, with Saudi Arabia being one of the 19 candidates. McCulloch urged UN member states to vote against Saudi Arabia's bid for a seat on the council, citing the kingdom's increasing executions carried out with impunity.
Human Rights Activists Denounce Riyadh's Candidacy
Human rights activists have criticized Riyadh’s candidacy as being contradictory to the council’s purpose. The HRC, the main intergovernmental body within the UN tasked with strengthening the protection and promotion of human rights globally, requires its member countries to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and to fully cooperate with the Council.
UN Watch Calls for HRC Election System Reform
UN Watch, an organization that monitors the UN’s performance against its own charter, has led calls for the reform of the HRC’s election system. The current system allows for states with a poor human rights record to become members. Two-thirds of the council’s members are non-democracies. UN Watch declared Saudi Arabia as "unqualified" for membership of the council on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia's Misrepresentation of Its Use of the Death Penalty
According to Reprieve, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly misrepresented its use of the death penalty to the UN. On Wednesday, it told the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that it only uses the death penalty for the most serious crimes, and that its juvenile law seeks to negate the death penalty for minors. However, this is contradicted by the kingdom’s history of issuing death penalties for those accused of crimes committed under the age of 18.
Execution of Minors and Non-Lethal Offenders
Three clients of Reprieve and the ESOHR, Abdullah al-Derazi, Youssef al-Manasif and Abdullah al-Howaiti, were convicted based on confessions made under torture for alleged crimes committed when they were under 18. The Saudi Human Rights Commission, the official human rights authority in the kingdom, falsely claimed that child defendant Mustafa al-Darwish, who was sentenced to death for protest-related offences, was over 19 at the time of the crimes. However, Reprieve and ESOHR provided evidence that he was in fact under 18. Darwish was executed on 15 June 2021 despite the evidence.
Bottom Line
Saudi Arabia's record-breaking number of executions in 2024 raises serious questions about its commitment to human rights and its suitability for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. It's a stark reminder of the ongoing debate about capital punishment and the importance of transparency in the justice system. What are your thoughts on this matter? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
