Saudi Arabia executed six Iranian nationals convicted of drug smuggling, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday. The individuals were charged with smuggling hashish into the kingdom and were sentenced to death after a specialized court found them guilty. The Saudi interior ministry confirmed that all appeals were exhausted and the verdicts upheld by the Supreme Court before a royal decree authorized the executions. However, the ministry did not specify the date the executions were carried out.
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This marks part of a broader surge in executions in Saudi Arabia, which carried out 338 executions in 2024, the highest in decades. Among these, 117 were for drug trafficking offenses, reflecting a significant rise since the kingdom ended a moratorium on the death penalty for drug charges in 2021.
Iran’s Strong Protest Against Executions
In response to the executions, Iran summoned Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Tehran to express a formal protest. Iran’s foreign ministry described the executions as “unacceptable” and a violation of international legal standards. A statement from the ministry highlighted the incompatibility of these actions with the judicial cooperation agreed upon between the two nations.
Iranian media reported that the Saudi envoy was presented with a note of protest emphasizing the necessity of an explanation from Riyadh. The incident has added strain to the recently restored relations between the two nations.
Fragile Relations After Recent Rapprochement
Diplomatic ties between Tehran and Riyadh were severed in 2016 following attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. However, relations were restored in 2023 under a China-brokered agreement that sought to ease tensions in the Gulf and reduce regional conflicts. The current incident threatens this fragile détente, with Iranian officials questioning Saudi Arabia’s adherence to international norms.
Rising Trend of Capital Punishment in Saudi Arabia
The kingdom’s use of the death penalty has drawn significant criticism from international human rights organizations. Amnesty International reported that Saudi Arabia executed 170 people in 2023 and 338 in 2024, marking a sharp increase. The majority of those executed in 2024 were foreigners, including 129 individuals from countries such as Yemen, Pakistan, and Egypt.
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Saudi authorities argue that the death penalty is necessary to maintain public order and is only applied after thorough judicial processes. Nonetheless, the growing number of executions, particularly for drug offenses, has sparked global concern.