Saudi Arabia Executes Nearly 100 People in 2026, 61 for Drug Offences – Amnesty Calls for Immediate Moratorium

Saudi Arabia executed 96 people between January 1 and June 22, 2026, according to Amnesty International. Sixty-one of those executions were for drug-related offenses, including 39 foreign nationals. This follows a sharp increase in capital punishment, with 356 executions recorded in 2025.

The latest execution occurred on June 18, 2026, as part of a trend the human rights organization describes as an “execution spree.” Of the 61 people put to death for drug offenses so far this year, 22 were Saudi nationals and 39 were foreign citizens.

Which nationalities are most impacted by Saudi drug executions?

Foreign nationals represent the majority of drug-related executions in the kingdom. Among the 39 foreigners executed for drug offenses between January 1 and June 22, 2026, Amnesty International identified seven from Ethiopia and seven from Pakistan.

Other nationalities executed for drug crimes during this period include five individuals from Sudan, four from Jordan, and three from Syria.

Amnesty International reports that at least 63 Ethiopian nationals currently held in a single ward of the Khamis Mushait detention facility in south-west Saudi Arabia may face imminent execution for drug-related offenses. This concern follows the execution of seven Ethiopians earlier in 2026 for smuggling hashish.

How do current execution rates compare to previous years?

The number of executions in Saudi Arabia has risen sharply over the last two years. In 2025, Amnesty International recorded at least 356 executions, which is more than double the 122 executions recorded in 2024.

Long-term data shows the authorities executed 2,084 people between January 2014 and June 2026. Foreign nationals have been disproportionately affected by drug-related capital punishment over time.

• In 2024, foreign nationals accounted for 75% of drug-related executions.
• In 2025, that figure rose to 78%.

What is the international legal standing of these executions?

Amnesty International states that executing people for drug offenses violates international law and standards. Dana Ahmed, a Middle East Researcher at Amnesty International, said the current rate of executions exposes an “unconscionable and unlawful” use of the death penalty.

“At a time when governments and international institutions are increasingly acknowledging the need to promote evidence-based and rights-respecting responses to drug-related issues, Saudi Arabia continues to execute people for offences that should never be punished by death under international law and standards. Instead of reflecting on the human cost of their harshly punitive policies, the Saudi authorities continue to carry out executions at an alarming rate, including for drug-related offences.”

Dana Ahmed, Amnesty International

Ahmed noted that foreign nationals often face these penalties following “grossly unfair trials.” She called on the international community to oppose the executions and urged Saudi Arabia to establish an immediate moratorium on the death penalty as a step toward total abolition.

Amnesty International maintains a policy of opposing the death penalty in all cases, regardless of the crime, the guilt or innocence of the individual, or the method of execution.