Saudi Arabia has executed over 100 foreign nationals in 2024, marking a sharp and unprecedented rise in its use of the death penalty against non-citizens. Among them, 21 Pakistanis have faced execution, a concerning statistic highlighting the vulnerability of foreign workers and migrants in the kingdom.
Sharp Increase in Executions
According to a tally by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), the number of foreign nationals executed in Saudi Arabia this year has reached 101 as of November 16, nearly triple the figures for 2022 and 2023 when only 34 foreigners were executed annually. This year’s overall tally has soared to 274 executions, the highest in more than three decades, surpassing previous records of 196 in 2022 and 192 in 1995.
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The majority of foreign executions in 2024 have involved drug-related offenses. Of the 101 foreigners executed, 69 were convicted of drug crimes, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s resumption of executions for such offenses after lifting a three-year moratorium in 2022.
Pakistani Nationals Among the Most Affected
The Pakistani community has been significantly impacted, with 21 individuals executed so far this year. These include migrants who were often involved in low-level drug trafficking, with many reportedly coerced or manipulated by international drug cartels. Human rights organizations argue that these individuals are often victims of systemic exploitation and face severe barriers to justice in Saudi Arabia.
Pakistani nationals represent the largest group among the executed foreigners, followed by Yemenis (20) and Syrians (14). Other affected groups include Nigerians, Egyptians, and Jordanians, highlighting the widespread vulnerability of migrants from developing countries in the kingdom.
Fair Trial Concerns
Foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia often face significant hurdles in securing a fair trial. The European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR) has highlighted several issues, including restricted access to legal representation, limited translation services, and lack of transparency in court proceedings. Foreign defendants are frequently unable to understand or challenge the charges brought against them effectively, leaving them at a considerable disadvantage.
“Foreigners are the most vulnerable group,” said Taha al-Hajji, ESOHR’s legal director. “They are not only victims of major drug dealers but also subjected to a series of violations from the moment of their arrest until their execution.”
Broader Implications and Global Criticism
Saudi Arabia’s increasing use of the death penalty has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations and international observers. Amnesty International ranked the kingdom third globally in terms of executions in 2023, after China and Iran. Critics argue that the escalating number of executions contradicts Saudi Arabia’s stated efforts to reform its image and attract global investors and tourists under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative.
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The surge in executions has not only raised ethical concerns but also cast doubt on Saudi Arabia’s claims of limiting the death penalty to the most severe cases, such as murder or acts endangering multiple lives. The ESOHR’s data indicates that the majority of recent executions were related to drug offenses, often involving non-violent crimes.