Saudi Arabia executes 17 people

Saudi Arabia is accused of carrying out executions almost daily for the past two weeks despite a promise not to use the death penalty for non-violent crimes.

A UN human rights spokesperson said 17 men have been executed in Saudi Arabia since Nov. 10 for drug and contraband offences, with the latest three executions taking place on Monday.

“Those executed to date are four Syrians, three Pakistanis, three Jordanians, and seven Saudis,” Elizabeth Throssell told a Geneva press briefing, calling the executions “deeply regrettable.”

The hasty executions follow a 21-month unofficial moratorium on the death penalty for drug offences.

“Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards,” said Throssell.

The total number of executions this year is 144, she added. Most of the executions are believed to be beheadings, she said, noting however that circumstances around the executions are “often surrounded in secrecy.”

Also unclear is how many people are on death row in Saudi Arabia, given that only executions can be verified, Throssell said.

She also drew attention to the case of Hussein Abo al-kheir, a 57-year-old father of eight who the UN believes “may be at risk of imminent execution.”

Human rights groups argue that amphetamine drugs were planted in alkheir’s car while it was parked outside his home in Jordan, and that he was later forced to confess to drug-related charges by torture.

“While all eyes are on the football, Saudi Arabia is carrying out a horrifying execution spree, killing people like Hussein, an innocent man who was tortured by Saudi police to ‘confess,’” said Maya Foa, director of Reprieve, a human rights organization, according to the Daily Mail.

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took his seat next to the FIFA president at the World Cup opener in Qatar, capping a remarkable turnabout in his fortunes.

With Washington last week deeming him immune from prosecution for the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi and giving a public display of its commitment to Saudi security in warning of an Iran threat, the Prince has appeared to have tamed U.S. ire.