Saudi Arabia Executes 17 to Death in Three Days

Saudi authorities have intensified their execution spree, killing 17 people in just three days, according to state-run media.

This rapid pace of capital punishment has raised alarm globally and triggered fresh criticism of the kingdom’s hardline justice system.

On Monday, August 4, officials executed two Saudi nationals for alleged terrorist acts, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

Just days before, on Saturday and Sunday, the government had already executed 15 others mostly foreigners on drug-related charges.

Among those killed over the weekend, 13 had smuggled hashish. One had trafficked cocaine, while authorities executed another for an unspecified drug offense.

Although Saudi Arabia paused drug-related executions for nearly three years, the government resumed them in late 2022.

Since then, the pace has only increased. Observers say this new wave of executions reflects the kingdom’s 2023 “war on drugs.”

Many of the condemned had been arrested during that crackdown and are now facing execution as their trials conclude.

The surge brings back memories of March 2022, when Saudi Arabia executed 81 people in a single day. That incident sparked worldwide outrage and this latest spree has reignited concerns.

Human rights groups have strongly condemned the trend. Jeed Basyouni of the Reprieve rights group called attention to the sharp increase in executions for hashish-related crimes.

She noted that foreign nationals make up the majority of those executed, raising questions about fair trials and legal representation.

“This is especially troubling,” she said, “considering the global shift toward decriminalizing the use and possession of hashish.”

As of August 2025, the kingdom has already executed 239 people 161 for drug-related crimes. Of that total, 136 were foreign nationals, according to a tally by AFP based on official reports.

If this trend continues, Saudi Arabia may exceed last year’s record of 338 executions the highest since public records began in the early 1990s.

Saudi officials maintain they only execute after defendants exhaust all appeal options.

However, critics argue that foreign prisoners face significant disadvantages, including limited access to legal aid and language barriers in court.

While much of the world pushes for drug law reform, Saudi Arabia appears to be moving in the opposite direction one marked by swift trials and deadly consequences.

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