🧵 There is an EXECUTION CRISIS in #SaudiArabia ‼️🇸🇦

Under the so-called reformist Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), executions in the Kingdom have spiked, reaching record numbers, despite promises of reforms. Who is being executed? Why? This report shows that:

1️⃣there is an unprecedented spike in executions for solely drug-related offenses - most of whom are foreign nationals.

2️⃣ many are sentenced for “terrorism”-related offenses - the Shia minority are overrepresented.

📈1.816 people have been executed the last decade, according to official statistics.

32.8% (597) have been executed for solely drug-related offences. Nearly 75% of those were foreign nationals, whom face additional challenges to receiving fair trials in a foreign and inherently opaque criminal justice system.

Both total numbers, and solely drug-related executions are increasing despite promises to reduce the use of the death penalty in several cases. What “reforms” were adopted or promised? Examples

➡️Adoption of a juvenile law + royal order to limit the use of the death penalty for alleged juvenile offenders ➡️ Limit the use of the death penalty for “ta’zir” offenses - offenses that do not mandate the death penalty under the Kingdom’s interpretation of Islamic law

➡️ A moratorium on drug-related executions, that only lasted for a 33 month-period in 2020-22. ➡️ Abolition of death penalty for alleged juvenile offenders for ta’zir offenses Reforms have either been backtracked or poorly implemented. For instance:

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ A record total of 345 people were executed, of which approx. 35% (122) were executed for solely drug-related offences. All of the 122 were ta’zir executions 📜 Moreover,both the anti-narcotics law + the counter-terror law stipulate that the death penalty can be imposed

As for alleged juvenile offenders, at least seven young men, some as young as 12 at the time of their alleged offenses, have received death sentences, for alleged ta’zir offenses. Six of them are from the Shia minority.

286 ppl have been executed this decade for “terrorism”-related offenses, of which 120 are Shia. They make up 42% of such executions, despite only making up 10-12% of the population. The “crimes” can be peaceful political dissent or participating in anti-gov. protests

We bring this report to your attention @NorwayMFA, @akravik79, @NorwayAmbKSA, @MonikaThowsen