Saudi Arabia has set a grim new record for executions, with an AFP tally showing the kingdom has killed 340 people so far in 2025. This toll surpasses the 338 executions recorded in 2024. Authorities announced three people were put to death on Monday, stating, “three individuals were executed in the Mecca region for murder convictions.”
The surge is largely linked to the 2023 “war on drugs,” with drug-related cases constituting the majority, 232, of the 340 executions. This marks a resumption of capital punishment for narcotics offenses since late 2022, and foreign nationals are reportedly bearing the brunt of the campaign.
The kingdom’s consistent use of the death penalty has drawn heavy criticism from human rights groups. Critics condemn the practice as excessive and a contrast to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to promote a modern global image. Amnesty International began documenting the country’s executions in 1990.