In 2023, Saudi authorities executed over 170 people, with 33 of them accused of “terrorism-related” crimes. Among them was retired teacher Mohammed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, whose death sentence was recently quashed by a criminal court.
Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of al-Ghamdi, who was sentenced to death on false terror charges related to his social media posts. The UK-based rights group emphasized that his conviction should be overturned, and he should be released without delay.
The organization urged Saudi authorities to show their commitment to human rights reforms by ending the use of the death penalty to silence dissent and suppress freedom of expression. They also highlighted instances of retaliation against family members of activists and critics living in exile.
Furthermore, Amnesty documented an escalation in the crackdown on social media expression in Saudi Arabia, with individuals facing severe punishments under vague anti-cybercrime and counter-terrorism laws.
The excessive use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, with 170 executions in 2023, was a cause for concern, placing the country among the top executors globally. Amnesty International’s report urged Saudi authorities to address these human rights violations and release all peaceful dissenters imprisoned for expressing their views.