Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, October 23, executed seven individuals, including five for drug trafficking, as reported by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
This brings the total number of executions in the kingdom this year to 236, according to an AFP tally of official statements.
The Yemeni citizens executed were Yahya Lutfullah, Ali Azib, Ahmed Ali, and Salem Nahari, who were put to death in the southern province of Asir for smuggling hashish into the country, as announced by the interior ministry via SPA. Additionally, a Pakistani man was executed for drug trafficking, increasing the number of individuals executed for drug-related offenses this year to 71.
Saudi Arabia has emerged as a significant market for captagon, an addictive amphetamine mainly produced in Syria and Lebanon. The kingdom has ramped up its anti-drug efforts over the past year, resulting in numerous raids and arrests.
Since lifting the moratorium on the death penalty for drug offenses two years ago, the number of executions for drug trafficking has surged. On the same day, two Saudi nationals were also executed for murder.
Amnesty International has reported that Saudi Arabia ranks third globally for the highest number of executions in 2023, following China and Iran. Human rights organizations have consistently criticized the kingdom’s use of the death penalty, arguing that it is excessive and undermines Saudi Arabia’s efforts to modernize its international image. The Saudi government defends capital punishment as crucial for maintaining public order, asserting that all appeals must be fully exhausted before sentences are carried out.