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 3, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYA Saudi executed for drug
3 January 2018: Ead bin Dweehe al-Atwi, a Saudi citizen, was beheaded for smuggling a large quantity of banned amphetamine pills, in Tabook
- JANUARY 1, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
- JANUARY 1, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
First execution of the year
1 January 2018: Hashem bin Adnan al-Khadrawe, a Saudi citizen, was beheaded for murder in the Eastern Province of the country.
NOVEMBER 28, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 7 EXECUTED FOR MURDER, DRUGS OFFENCES
Saudi Arabia executed six Yemeni men convicted of murder and robbery and a Saudi man for smuggling drugs, the interior ministry said.
NOVEMBER 23, 2017United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYANTI-TERROR STATES ADD 2 ENTITIES, 11 INDIVIDUALS TO TERRORIST BLACKLIST
The Anti-Terror Quartet (ATQ); Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, added two entities and 11 individuals to its blacklist.
NOVEMBER 6, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: NEW ANTI-TERROR LAWS INCLUDE DEATH PENALTY
The new laws state that individuals defaming and publicly insulting the King and the Crown Prince will be sentenced to 5 to 10 years of imprisonment.
- OCTOBER 14, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: TWO INDONESIANS GRANTED PARDON
The Indonesian government has managed to successfully secure the release of two Indonesians on death row in Saudi Arabia and repatriated them on October 14.
OCTOBER 1, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI ‘DRUG TRAFFICKER’ AMONG SIX BEHEADED
The Saudi Arabia government executed six people, including a Pakistani citizen, convicted of drug trafficking and homicide, the highest number of executions in a single day this year.
JULY 27, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TARGETING SECURITY MEN, CIVILIANS IN QATIF
The Supreme Judicial Council issued an initial death sentence in the case of a Saudi who has targeted security men and civilians in Qatif, east of the kingdom, through shooting them while performing their duties.
JULY 11, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA EXECUTES PRISONER CONVICTED OF PROTEST
The Saudi authorities have executed four men who were convicted in a secret ‘terrorism’ court – including at
JULY 10, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SIX EXECUTED, INCLUDING A PAKISTANI
Six people convicted of drug trafficking and homicide were executed in Saudi Arabia, the government said, the highest number of executions in a single day this year.
- MAY 28, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR DISABLED MAN ‘TORTURED FOR CONFESSION’
Saudi Arabia has upheld a death sentence for a disabled man, arrested in 2012 on suspicion of taking part in protests and then tortured until he signed a “false confession,” according to a rights group.