Saudi Arabia
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- absolute monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- Sharia applies; a fundamental law establishing the rights and responsibilities of the government was introduced in 1992
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on Sharia law but some secular norms have been introduced
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- Advisory Council, appointed by the king for 4 years
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Council of Justice
RELIGIONS
100% Muslims
From the country
JANUARY 19, 2021Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: DRAMATIC DROP IN EXECUTIONS AFTER LAWS CHANGED IN 2020
Saudi Arabia, for years one of the world's most prolific executioners, dramatically reduced the number of people put to death last year, following changes halting executions for non-violent drug-related crimes, according to the government’s tally and inde
DECEMBER 7, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING SECURITY OFFICERS
A Saudi court on 3 December 2020 sentenced one man to death for killing two security personnel on the border with Yemen, according to Saudi media.
OCTOBER 22, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: JUVENILE OFFENDERS WILL NOT FACE DEATH PENALTY, SAYS SAUDI HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) has reiterated that juvenile offenders will not face the death penalty in kingdom, Gulf News reported on 22 October 2020.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO BROTHERS GET DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING THEIR MOTHER
Saudi Arabia has awarded on 14 September 2020 the death penalty to two Saudi brothers associated with Daesh (the so-called IS) terrorist outfit. They were convicted of killing their mother and attempting to murder their father and brother.
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: TWO MILITANTS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER TERROR ATTACK
A Saudi court on 9 September 2020 sentenced two militants to death on charges of involvement in a 2014 attack on a Shiite gathering and links to the terrorist Daesh group, the news portal Sabq reported.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED IN JAMAL KHASHOGGI MURDER CASE
A court in Saudi Arabia on 7 September 2020 commuted the death sentences handed to five people convicted over the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: DEATH FOR THREE MEMBERS OF AL-HARAZAT TERROR CELL
A Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced on 6 September 2020 three members of a terrorist cell, known as “Al-Harazat”, to death for their involvement in several attacks across Saudi Arabia.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SEVEN ISLAMIST MILITANTS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER KILLINGS OF SHI'ITES
A Saudi court has sentenced seven Islamic State militants to death over a 2014 shooting attack that killed eight Shi'ite Muslims near the eastern city of al-Ahsa, state television reported on 2 September 2020.
JUNE 25, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: LONGEST-SERVING PRISONER EXECUTED AFTER COUSIN’S FAMILY REJECT PARDON
Saudi Arabia's longest-serving prisoner was put to death on 23 June 2020, following a decades-long battle for a pardon from the family of his victim, which saw his impended execution delayed.
- MAY 23, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: KHASHOGGI'S SONS FORGIVE SAUDI KILLERS, SPARING 5 EXECUTION
The family of slain Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi announced on 22 May 2020 they have forgiven his Saudi killers, giving legal reprieve to the five government agents who'd been sentenced to death for an operation that cast a cloud of suspicion
MAY 3, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: ON ANNIVERSARY OF MASS EXECUTION, FAMILIES PLEAD FOR RETURN OF THEIR LOVED ONES' REMAINS
It has been exactly one year since 37 people were executed on a single day in Saudi Arabia, and none of the bodies are known to have been returned to their families, according to human rights activists, ABC News reported on 23 April 2020.
APRIL 30, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: EGYPTIAN ENGINEER ON DEATH ROW EXONERATED
An Egyptian engineer who was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia in 2017 on charges of smuggling drugs to the Kingdom was acquitted of charges, his brother told Egypt Today on 26 April 2020, saying the ruling is almost final.