Saudi Arabia has reached its highest-ever level of executions in 2024, with over 300 individuals put to death, according to an AFP tally.
This figure marks a increase from the previous record of 196 executions in 2022, as reported by Amnesty International.
The surge in executions has primarily targeted those convicted of drug smuggling and murder, with the official Saudi Press Agency confirming that four additional executions on December 3 brought the year's total to 303.
Human rights organizations have been vocal in their criticism of this alarming trend. Taha al-Hajji, legal director of the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights, condemned the "rocket speed" of executions, describing it as "incomprehensible and inexplicable."
The rapid escalation in the use of the death penalty has intensified scrutiny on Saudi Arabia's judicial practices, particularly under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Kingdom's approach to justice has also been criticized for its suppression of free speech. A poignant example is the case of Saudi artist Mohammed al-Hazza, who was sentenced to more than two decades in prison for political cartoons deemed offensive to the Gulf kingdom's leadership.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and ALQST, have highlighted the broader crackdown on freedom of expression, noting that the Saudi judiciary has handed down lengthy prison terms to numerous individuals for their social media activities.
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