Brussels, 16 December 2025 — The International Federation for Rights and Development (IFRD) expresses grave concern at reports that Saudi Arabia has carried out 340 executions in 2025, the highest annual total on record, according to an AFP tally based on official announcements.
This escalation reflects a deeply alarming trajectory in the use of capital punishment, including in cases linked to non-lethal offences such as drug-related charges and amid persistent allegations of due process violations. Human rights organisations have documented patterns of unfair trials, limited access to legal representation and interpretation, and a disproportionate impact on foreign nationals.
IFRD reiterates its principled opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances. Capital punishment is incompatible with the spirit and protections of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)—notably the rights to life, freedom from cruel and degrading punishment, and the guarantees of a fair trial.
IFRD calls on the Saudi authorities to:
1. Immediately establish an official moratorium on all executions, as a first step toward full abolition.
2. Commute all existing death sentences, prioritising cases involving non-lethal offences and individuals whose convictions raise due process concerns.
3. Ensure fair-trial safeguards in all capital cases, including timely access to legal counsel, interpretation, consular access for foreign nationals, and independent review of coerced-confession allegations.
4. Fully comply with international standards prohibiting the execution of persons for offences committed as minors, and halt any executions that would breach this prohibition.
5. Publish transparent, comprehensive official data on death sentences and executions, enabling independent monitoring and accountability.
IFRD further urges Saudi Arabia’s international partners to make clear—publicly and consistently—that meaningful engagement must be anchored in measurable human rights compliance, including a credible pathway to abolishing the death penalty.
