Saudi Arabia executed seven individuals on Wednesday, including five for drug trafficking, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
These executions bring the total number in the country this year to 236, based on official reports.
Yahya Lutfullah, Ali Azib, Ahmed Ali, and Salem Nahari, all Yemeni citizens, were executed in the southern province of Asir for smuggling hashish, according to a statement from the interior ministry published by SPA. Additionally, a Pakistani man was executed on the same day for drug trafficking, bringing the total number of people executed for drug-related crimes this year to 71.
Saudi Arabia has become a significant market for captagon, an addictive amphetamine drug, mainly trafficked from war-torn Syria and Lebanon. In response, Saudi authorities launched a high-profile anti-drug campaign last year, resulting in numerous raids and arrests. Executions for drug trafficking have risen since the country ended a moratorium on the death penalty for drug offenses two years ago.
On Wednesday, the interior ministry also announced the execution of two Saudis for murder.
According to Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia ranked third globally for the highest number of executions in 2023, following China and Iran. Despite repeated criticism from rights groups regarding its extensive use of the death penalty, Riyadh maintains that capital punishment is necessary to “maintain public order” and is only carried out after defendants have exhausted all legal appeals.
