Saudi Arabia has set a grim record by executing 213 individuals in 2024, surpassing any previous year’s numbers as the kingdom vies for a spot at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Despite promises to reduce capital punishment, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s government remains a leading force in executions globally.
Under bin Salman’s rule from June 2017 to October 2024, at least 1,457 executions have taken place, per Reprieve. A joint report in 2023 revealed that executions nearly doubled under King Salman and bin Salman’s reign since 2015, marking an 82% increase.
“With 213 executions and counting, death row prisoners are at greater risk than ever before,” notes Reprieve’s deputy director. As Saudi Arabia competes for a seat in the HRC, human rights activists emphasize the contradiction in its candidacy.
UN Watch criticizes the council’s flawed election system that admits states with poor human rights records. Saudi Arabia’s history of misinformation about its use of the death penalty highlights the urgent need for reform.