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
MAY 11, 2021PakistanDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA TO RELEASE 1,100 PAKISTANI PRISONERS
Pakistan on 10 May 2021 said that 1,100 of its nationals imprisoned in Saudi Arabia will return to the country soon after agreements were reached with Riyadh on the release of inmates.
APRIL 12, 2021Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 80% OF PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH AS MINORS STILL FACE EXECUTION
Anti-death penalty group Reprieve said on 9 April 2021 that 80% of those sentenced to death for crimes in Saudi Arabia while minors still face execution despite reforms announced in 2020.
APRIL 12, 2021Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 3 SOLDIERS EXECUTED FOR 'HIGH TREASON’
Saudi Arabia executed three soldiers on 10 April 2021 it accused of committing “high treason,” without elaborating on which enemy the kingdom believed the men aided.
- MARCH 30, 2021Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI CITIZEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BANGLADESHI
A court in Saudi Arabia on 24 March 2021 sentenced Umar al-Shammeri, a Saudi Arabian citizen, to death for killing Bangladeshi immigrant Sagar Patwari in Dammam of the country 15 years ago.
- MARCH 11, 2021Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: 5 DAESH MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ASSASSINATING OFFICER, BLOWING UP MOSQUES
A preliminary death sentence was issued on 11 March 2021 in Saudi Arabia against five members of a cell affiliated with the terrorist group Daesh.
- FEBRUARY 16, 2021Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI NATIONAL HANDED DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER OF BANGLADESHI WOMAN
A criminal court in Riyadh on 14 February 2021 handed a Saudi national the death penalty for the murder of a Bangladeshi domestic worker.
FEBRUARY 13, 2021Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: EGYPTIAN ALI ABU AL-QASIM’S DEATH SENTENCE REDUCED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON
Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Criminal Court sentenced on 11 February 2021 Egyptian engineer Ali Abul-Qasim to 25 years in prison after cancelling a death penalty over his conviction in a drug trafficking case.
FEBRUARY 8, 2021Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE YOUTHS GET PRISON SENTENCE INSTEAD OF DEATH
Three young Saudi men who faced death sentences for acts they were accused of committing as minors have been handed a 10-year prison sentence instead, the Saudi Human Rights Commission said on 7 February 2021.
- JANUARY 19, 2021Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI 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 PENALTY
SAUDI 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.