Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is making many claims that he is changing Saudi, but many strict laws are still flourishing in Saudi. Saudi Arabia is one of those countries in the world where the highest number of death sentences are given. Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry on Thursday sentenced two people to death on charges of drug smuggling. According to news agency AFP, the number of executions given in the country so far this year has reached 106.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, one of the two to be sentenced to death was a Saudi citizen, who was hanged in Mecca for smuggling amphetamines and the other was a Pakistani citizen, who was hanged in Mecca for smuggling heroin. Three years after abolishing the death penalty for drug-related crimes, the Saudi government has again started giving death penalty for these crimes in 2022.
read this also
One hanging every two days
According to the data, last year Saudi authorities hanged at least 172 people and this year, in just seven months, the number of executions has reached 106. Talking about last year, till this time last year, this number was 74.
100 executions in 2024 so far by the Kingdom of Executions & counting! Saudi Arabia executes a person every two days so far in 2024 The rate of executions in Saudi Arabia in 2024 is nearly one execution every two days, representing a 42% increase compared to the same period in pic.twitter.com/vrh0AOeUl6
— ALLIANCE INTERNATIONALE AIDL (@AIDLEU) July 16, 2024
The Berlin-based European-Saudi Human Rights Organization on Monday criticized Saudi Arabia for carrying out “an execution almost every two days.” “100 executions in 196 days show the Saudi government’s intention to generalize the death penalty, which violates international law and its official commitments,” the organization said in a statement.
How many citizens of which country were hanged
Those executed this year include 78 Saudi citizens, eight Yemenis, five Ethiopians, seven Pakistanis, three Syrians and one each from Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Jordan, India and Sudan. Two women were also hanged among these 78 people. Officials believe that the executions are in accordance with Sharia law and are necessary to maintain public order.
China and Iran are not far behind
According to Amnesty International's 2023 report, Saudi Arabia hanged the most people last year after China and Iran. About 1000 people were hanged in China in 2023 and 853 in Iran, while 172 people were hanged in Saudi last year. Saudi Arabia is usually known for the punishment of beheading. In March 2022, 81 people were hanged in the country in a single day, after which Saudi had to face condemnation from all over the world.
King Salman is running several projects to change the image of the oil exporting country and attract tourists and investors. Such harsh punishments and ignorance of human rights in the country can directly affect his Vision 2030.
