Saudi Arabia
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 9
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 41
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Executions are carried out in public with a sword
- News items in the archive
- 1,841
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Saudi Arabia is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 9 executions in the country, against 41 the year before. The archive holds 1,841 news items on Saudi Arabia, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
JANUARY 11, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: INDONESIA PAYS $1.87 MILLIONS TO SAVE MAID FROM DEATH ROW
the Indonesian government formally appealed to Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah to pardon a maid on death
JANUARY 10, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: ETHIOPIAN KILLER MAID GETS DEATH SENTENCE
A penal court in Taif has sentenced an Ethiopian maid to death for killing her woman sponsor with an axe.
- JANUARY 8, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: TWO MEN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MURDER
A Pakistani man convicted of drug trafficking and a Saudi national convicted of murder were beheaded in Riyadh, the interior ministry said.
JANUARY 8, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: MAN PARDONS SON’S KILLER
A Saudi father saved the life of his son’s killer by forgiving him in court and refusing a large sum of money as
- JANUARY 7, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Suwaileh al-Sahimi, a Saudi convicted of murder, was executed in the holy city of Medina, the interior
Suwaileh al-Sahimi, a Saudi convicted of murder, was executed in the holy city of Medina, the interior
- JANUARY 6, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI BEHEADS SYRIAN, 3RD EXECUTION IN 2015
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian convicted of drugs trafficking, the interior ministry said, in the third execution this year in the ultra-conservative kingdom.
- JANUARY 1, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
JANUARY 1, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 2 INMATES BEHEADED IN FIRST EXECUTIONS OF 2015
- DECEMBER 29, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: 86TH EXECUTION OF 2014 CARRIED OUT
Saudi Arabia beheaded a man in the southern Najran region for stabbing a relative to death, the interior ministry said.
- DECEMBER 25, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
a Pakistani man, Ismail Khan Sayed, was beheaded in Eastern Province after his conviction for smuggling "a
a Pakistani man, Ismail Khan Sayed, was beheaded in Eastern Province after his conviction for smuggling "a
- DECEMBER 22, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
a Saudi man, Suleiman bin Abdullah, was beheaded in Buraidah after being convicted of
a Saudi man, Suleiman bin Abdullah, was beheaded in Buraidah after being convicted of
DECEMBER 21, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE INDIANS SAVED FROM EXECUTION
Three Indians on death row in Saudi Arabia for the murder of their compatriot have been saved from being
- DECEMBER 17, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI HEROIN TRAFFICKER BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling, the interior ministry said, in the kingdom’s latest
DECEMBER 16, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 2 BEHEADED SAUDIS BRING 2014 EXECUTION TALLY TO 82
2 Saudis were beheaded for drug trafficking and murder, official media reported, bringing to 82 the number of executions this year.
- DECEMBER 15, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: YEMENI THIEF'S HAND AMPUTATED
Saudi officials amputated the right hand of a Yemeni national convicted of several thefts.
DECEMBER 12, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: FILIPINO BEHEADED FOR MURDER
A Filipino convicted of murder was beheaded in Riyadh. Carlito Lana shot dead Saudi national Nasser
DECEMBER 11, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling, bringing to 10 the number of people from his
- DECEMBER 9, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA CARRIES OUT 77TH EXECUTION OF 2014
Saudi Arabia beheaded a convicted Saudi drug trafficker, the 77th state execution in the oil-rich kingdom
- DECEMBER 9, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: ETHIOPIAN WOMAN BEHEADED FOR MURDERING A THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD
An Ethiopian maid, Khadija bint Mohammed Isa, was beheaded in Hafar al-Batin, the interior ministry said.
DECEMBER 5, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PARDON PUSHES ASIAN KILLER TO ISLAM
Arar newspaper said a Sri Lankan man on the death row converted to Islam after he was pardoned by the
- DECEMBER 3, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR ROLE IN AL-QAEDA CELL
A Saudi court sentenced a Saudi citizen to death for helping al-Qaeda carry out terrorist attacks in the
- DECEMBER 3, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SYRIAN IS 75TH PERSON EXECUTED THIS YEAR
Saudi Arabia executed a Syrian convicted of drug smuggling, bringing to 75 the number of locals and
- NOVEMBER 28, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA IMPOSES DEATH SENTENCE FOR BIBLE SMUGGLING
In a recent official statement from the Saudi Arabian government, the death sentence will now be imposed
- NOVEMBER 27, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling. Mohammed Rahman Mohammed Asghar was
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling. Mohammed Rahman Mohammed Asghar was
- NOVEMBER 25, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI BEHEADS 8TH PAKISTANI SINCE MID-OCTOBER
A Pakistani became the eighth person from the country to be beheaded in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking
- NOVEMBER 21, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded two local men convicted of raping two girls, stealing cars and taking drugs, the
Saudi authorities beheaded two local men convicted of raping two girls, stealing cars and taking drugs, the
- NOVEMBER 20, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Turkish man convicted of drug trafficking, the interior ministry said
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Turkish man convicted of drug trafficking, the interior ministry said
- NOVEMBER 19, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: KILLER WHO SHOT DEAD A POLICEMAN AND SOLDIER AND TRIED TO FLEE WHILE WEARING A BURKHA IS BEHEADED
A killer who shot dead a policeman and soldier before donning a burkha in a bid to evade police was
- NOVEMBER 18, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: MAN BEHEADED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Syrian convicted of drug trafficking, official media said, bringing to 68 the number
- NOVEMBER 13, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI DRUG SMUGGLER BEHEADED
A man who was convicted of smuggling heroin in his intestines has become the seventh Pakistani beheaded