Saudi Arabia executions near 100 in 2026, Amnesty calls for halt

Saudi Arabia has carried out nearly 100 executions so far this year, Amnesty International said, urging the Kingdom to immediately halt executions as a first step towards abolishing the death penalty.

The rights organisation said Saudi authorities executed 96 people between January 1 and June 22, including 61 for drug-related offences. Among them were 39 foreign nationals and 22 Saudi citizens.

Dana Ahmed, Middle East Researcher at Amnesty International, described the execution tally as a “grim milestone”, saying Saudi Arabia continues to use the death penalty for drug-related offences despite international



standards limiting capital punishment to the “most serious crimes”.

She said governments around the world are increasingly adopting evidence-based approaches to drug policy, while Saudi Arabia continues to carry out executions for offences that should not be punishable by death under international law.

Amnesty also warned that at least 63 Ethiopian nationals held at Khamis Mushait detention facility in south-west Saudi Arabia could be at imminent risk of execution on drug-related charges. It said concerns intensified after seven Ethiopian nationals were executed earlier this year following convictions for smuggling hashish.