17 People Executed Over 3 Days in Saudi Arabia, Mostly for Drug Crimes

Saudi Arabia has executed 17 people in just three days, with the majority of the victims convicted of drug-related offenses, according to state media reports. Two executions were carried out on Monday for "terrorist crimes," while 15 others were executed over the weekend, primarily foreigners convicted of smuggling hashish and cocaine. This marks the fastest pace of executions since March 2022, when 81 people were executed in a single day for terrorism-related offenses.

As of August 2025, Saudi Arabia has carried out 239 executions this year, putting it on track to surpass last year's total of 338 — the highest since public records began tracking executions in the early 1990s. Of the 239 executions this year, 161 were for drug offenses, and 136 were foreigners, according to a tally by AFP of official data.

The kingdom has been embroiled in controversy over its use of the death penalty, particularly in the context of its "war on drugs" launched in 2023. Many of those arrested under this campaign have now been executed after legal proceedings. Saudi Arabia resumed executions for drug offenses in late 2022, after a three-year hiatus.

Human rights groups, including Reprieve and Amnesty International, have raised concerns about the surge in executions. Jeed Basyouni of Reprieve noted a "significant rise in executions for hashish-related drug offenses," with foreign nationals making up the majority of those executed. Kristine Beckerle of Amnesty International warned that the executions are "a truly horrifying trend," with many of the crimes not warranting the death penalty.

Saudi Arabia maintains that it only carries out executions after all legal appeals have been exhausted, and that the practice is aimed at ensuring national security and deterring drug trafficking. However, critics argue that the use of the death penalty undermines the image of a more open and progressive society that is central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform agenda.

As the world continues to move toward decriminalizing drug use, Saudi Arabia's approach stands in stark contrast, raising further questions about the balance between justice and human rights in the kingdom.