High Commissioner: The recent executions in Saudi Arabia are very unfortunate

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, considered that Saudi Arabia's resumption of executions for drug crimes after a two-year moratorium is very unfortunate.

In a media statement delivered by the commissioner's spokeswoman, Liz Throssell, he stressed that the imposition of the death penalty for drug offences violates international norms and standards. He called on the Saudi government to adopt an official moratorium on executions for drug-related crimes, to commute these sentences, and to guarantee the right to a fair trial for all defendants, including those accused of such crimes, in line with its international obligations.

The statement indicated that Saudi Arabia, over the past two weeks, carried out executions on an almost daily basis, thus ending an unofficial suspension of punishment for 21 months. He explained that since November 10, 2022, Saudi Arabia had executed 21 men accused of drug-related offences. Those executed were 4 Syrians, 3 Pakistanis, 3 Jordanians, and 7 Saudis.

The Commissioner considered that since death sentences cannot be confirmed until after they have been carried out, there is no information on the number of people on death row. However, according to some reports, Hussein Abu al-Khair, a Jordanian, may be at imminent risk of execution. The statement indicated that his case had already been taken up by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and found that his detention was arbitrary because it lacked a legal basis and there were serious concerns regarding his right to a fair trial.

The statement urged Saudi Arabia to stop the imminent execution of Abu al-Khair and comply with the opinion of the working group to abolish the death penalty issued against him, release him immediately and unconditionally, and ensure that he receives medical care and compensation.

The European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights affirms that Saudi Arabia, in its resumption of executions on drug charges, ignored its obligations and promises, including that of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Therefore, the High Commissioner's statement and any future international moves should not ignore Saudi Arabia's disregard for its commitments.

ESOHR also notes that Saudi Arabia has doubled the executed death sentences compared to last year, and carried out as of November 22, 144 sentences. Despite the lack of transparency, ESOHR documented 54 cases in which the defendants faced the death penalty, including at least 8 minors.