Saudi Arabia Executes Eight—including African Immigrants and a National—Over Hashish Smuggling

Saudi Arabia Executes Eight—including African Immigrants and a National—Over Hashish Smuggling

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Saudi Arabia has drawn global attention after executing eight individuals in a single day, marking a sharp escalation in the kingdom’s use of capital punishment.

According to state media, four Somali nationals and three Ethiopians were put to death in the southern region of Najran after being convicted of smuggling hashish.

A Saudi man was also executed, reportedly for murdering his mother.

This surge forms part of the kingdom’s intensified “war on drugs,” launched in 2023.

So far in 2025, Saudi Arabia has carried out 230 executions, with 154 of them directly related to drug offenses.

Human rights organizations have condemned the rise in executions, arguing that it tarnishes Saudi Arabia’s reformist image promoted under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030.

While officials defend the death penalty as a necessary measure to maintain public order and justice, activists warn that the increase undermines broader efforts toward modernization and human rights reform.

In Saudi Arabia, executions—especially for severe offenses like murder and drug trafficking—are typically conducted by public beheading with a sword.

Although the government does not always disclose whether executions are carried out publicly, this method has historically been performed in town squares, often during early morning hours and occasionally in the presence of witnesses.

In the recent case from August 2, 2025, involving eight individuals from both immigrant and local populations, it is highly likely the executions followed this traditional practice, in line with the kingdom’s established protocols.

Yetunde B reports for Yeyetunde’s Blog.