Press Release
UN human rights experts have voiced grave concern over Saudi Arabia’s recent execution of several foreign nationals. They emphasized that such actions raise significant doubts about the Kingdom’s adherence to international human rights standards and guarantees for fair trials.
The experts stressed that, under international law, the death penalty should be reserved for “the most serious crimes” and that all necessary safeguards for a fair trial must be in place. However, they expressed fears that the recent executions were carried out without full compliance with these guarantees, constituting a breach of Saudi Arabia’s international obligations.
Concerns were also raised over the insufficient legal representation provided to defendants during their trials, particularly in cases involving drug-related offenses—offenses that do not qualify as “most serious crimes” under international standards. The experts underscored that imposing the death penalty in such cases is a violation of human rights obligations set forth in international treaties.
The UN experts called on Saudi authorities to immediately halt executions and review the cases of death row inmates to ensure their compliance with international standards. They also urged for greater transparency and emphasized the need for fair and impartial trials for all defendants, including foreign nationals.
Saudi Arabia remains one of the world’s leading countries in carrying out executions, a practice that continues to draw criticism from human rights organizations and the international community.
