Saudi Arabia ‘sets new death penalty record in a year’

Saudi Arabia has set a new record for executions carried out in a single year, with 340 people put to death. This new figure surpasses the previous record set in 2024, with the majority of cases being drug-related. Human rights organizations have condemned the kingdom, highlighting that many executions follow flawed trials and involve confessions extracted under torture. The executions also include individuals who were minors at the time of their alleged crimes, a practice that violates international law and a 2020 Saudi pledge to end the death penalty for juvenile convicts.