Executions soar in Saudi Arabia

The rate of executions in Saudi Arabia has almost doubled for the second consecutive year, and has risen 82% since King Salman and his son Mohammed bin Salman came to power in 2015


Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Effective ruler since 2015

Mar 12: 81 executed on single day

200				 161  154	     187
					   146  147                 >147
100	      81   78   79   90				        67
50	26						   27
	2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022


DEATH SENTENCE UNDER ISLAMIC LAW 2010-2021
Three categories of crime and punishment
    
498
Retributive (Qisas)
Family of murder victim can request execution, financial compensation, or pardon 

162 
Mandatory (Hadd) 
Most serious crimes, with strict legal and evidential requirements, e.g. adultery, apostasy, carry fixed penalty

581
Discretionary (Ta’zir) 
Crimes against state or society, punishment decided by judge if not already codified in law

513 
Non-lethal crimes account for 94% of discretionary executions

68
Murder

 
EXECUTIONS FOR NON-LETHAL CRIMES

International law states only “most serious” crimes, e.g. murder, should carry death penalty
695 executed for murder

386 Drug trafficking

96 State security

38 Sexual offences

Organised crime 16 

Sorcery 4

Incest 1

Alleged moratorium on death sentences in 2020, executions resumed in 2022
 
 
Source: Reprieve 
Picture: Getty Images 
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