Saudi Arabia executed 17 people over three days, including 15 for drug-related crimes and 2 for terrorism offenses, marking one of the fastest paces of executions since March 2022. The majority of those executed were foreign nationals, mostly for smuggling hashish and cocaine.

Axar.az reports that so far in 2025, Saudi Arabia has conducted 239 executions, including 161 for drug offenses and 136 involving foreigners. The country is on track to surpass last year’s record of 345 executions, the highest since public documentation began in the 1990s.

Rights groups like Reprieve and Amnesty International have condemned the trend, calling it "horrifying" and "startling," particularly as many countries are moving toward decriminalizing substances like hashish. Analysts link the rise in executions to the kingdom's intensified "war on drugs", launched in 2023.

Despite international criticism, Saudi Arabia defends its use of capital punishment as a deterrent. However, human rights advocates argue that the policy contradicts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030, which seeks to project a more modern and welcoming global image.