Saudi Arabia Smashes Own Record For Most Executions In A Year

Saudi Arabia has executed 213 people in 2024, breaking its previous record and becoming the highest executioner in the world. The executions are carried out under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had pledged to reduce capital punishment. Saudi Arabia has executed over 1,100 people since bin Salman took power in 2017. Despite its abysmal human rights record, Saudi Arabia is seeking a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. The country has been accused of using torture to obtain confessions and executing minors for non-lethal offenses. Human rights organizations have urged UN member states to vote against Saudi Arabia's candidacy, citing its poor human rights record. Saudi Arabia has falsely claimed that it only uses the death penalty for serious crimes and that its juvenile law prohibits the execution of minors. Reprieve and ESOHR have provided evidence that Saudi Arabia has executed minors and based convictions on confessions obtained under torture.