Executions in Saudi Arabia hit record high under MBS as UN prepares to vote the country onto Human Rights Council this week
Saudi Arabia has carried out a record number of executions this year even as the UN gets set to vote on whether to grant the Kingdom a seat on the Human Rights council.
At least 208 people have been put to death in the Middle Eastern nation so far this year, outstripping the most recent high of 196 in 2022 with almost three months still remaining on the calendar.
The shocking figure, which rights groups claim is still underreported, puts the Arab Gulf state firmly in the top five nations where the death penalty is most frequently used, despite Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) pledging to reduce the rate of executions.
Since taking on the role of Crown Prince in 2015, MBS has overseen at least 1,447 executions and, despite a mortarium on the use of the death penalty for minor offences in 2020, the instances of capital punishment reached a monthly record high of 41 in August and 32 last month.
The harrowing figures comes as the UN gets ready to vote in two days on whether the Gulf state should be granted membership of the Human Rights council.
Since taking on the role of Crown Prince in 2015, Mohammed Bin Salman (pictured) has overseen at least 1,447 executions and the instances of capital punishment reached a monthly record high of 41 in August
At least 208 people have been put to death in the Middle Eastern nation so far this year, outstripping the most recent high of 196 in 2022 with almost three months still remaining on the calendar
The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The harrowing figures comes as the UN gets ready to vote in two day on whether the Gulf state should be granted membership of the Human Rights council
Currently, the council has 47 member states who are responsible for addressing human rights violations across the globe and for the strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights.
The UN General Assembly will select 18 new members to serve a three-year term. Saudi Arabia is one of six candidates vying for five seats in the Asia-Pacific grouping. Other candidates include Cyprus, South Korea, Thailand, Qatar and the Marshall Islands.
If the nation’s bid to join the council is successful it will likely be seen as a major victory for MBS. He has been working to change internationally opinions of Saudi Arabia as a part of his Vision 2030 plan.
Vision 2030 was launched in 2016 by MBS as part of a bid to diversify the petrostate’s economy away from it’s dependency on oil. The program is also committed to creating a more ‘vibrant society.’
On paper much of the reforms overseen by MBS have liberalised large parts of civil society such as by allowing women the right to drive in 2018 and lifting a ban on public cinemas in the same year.
However human rights groups have remained critical of the country’s record citing incidents such the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Mr Khashoggi, who had been a vocal critic of the Saudi autocracy, was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. Six years on the circumstances of his death still remain unclear.
More recently, Human Rights Watch has documented that hundreds of Ethiopian migrants have been killed while trying to cross the Yemen-Saudi border in 2022 and 2023 – in what the organisation said could potentially be a crime against humanity.
Currently, the council has 47 member states who are responsible for addressing human rights violations across the globe. If the Saudi bid to join the council is successful it will likely be seen as a major victory for MBS
Human Rights groups remain critical of Saudi Arabia’s record citing the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi (pictured). Mr Khashoggi, who had been a vocal critic of the Saudi autocracy, was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018
A Saudi woman getting ready to start a driving lesson. Vision 2030 was launched in 2016 by MBS as part of a bid to diversify the petrostate’s economy and create a ‘vibrant society.’ As a part of this liberalisation women were allowed the right to drive in 2018
Amnesty International have also claimed that citizens in Saudi Arabia are still regularly unlawfully jailed without an opportunity to challenge the lawfulness of their detention. Women continue to face discrimination in law and practise such as in child custody cases.
Saudi authorities have been slammed by Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard, who charged that the Kingdom is trying to brand itself as an inclusive, future-facing society while meting out capital punishment more often than ever before.
‘Saudi Arabia’s authorities are pursuing a relentless killing spree displaying a chilling disregard for human life while promoting an empty-worded campaign to rebrand their image,’ said Callamard.
‘The death penalty is an abhorrent and inhuman punishment which Saudi Arabia has used against people for a wide range of offences, including political dissent and drug-related charges following grossly unfair trials.
‘The authorities must immediately establish a moratorium on executions, and order re-trials for those on death row in line with international standards without resorting to the death penalty.’
Saudi authorities have been slammed by Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard, who charged that the Kingdom is trying to brand itself as an inclusive, future-facing society while meting out capital punishment more often than ever before
The Saudi capital of Riyadh at night. Amnesty International have claimed that citizens in Saudi Arabia are still regularly unlawfully jailed without an opportunity to challenge the lawfulness of their detention. Women continue to face discrimination in law
Saudi Arabia had previously attempted to join the council in 2020 but its application was rejected then due to concerns over it’s human rights record. A concern the United Nations director at Human Rights Watch insists remains valid today.
Louis Charbonneau said: “Saudi Arabia is unfit to serve on the Human Rights Council, and UN member states should reject its candidacy as they did in 2020.
‘Governments that commit crimes against humanity or similar atrocities and ensure impunity for those responsible shouldn’t be rewarded with seats on the UN’s top human rights body.’
