81 men have been executed in Saudi Arabia in what is thought to be the biggest killing spree in the history of the desert kingdom.
In 2021, 69 people were executed, making Saudi Arabia the world’s fifth most enthusiastic users of capital punishment according to Amnesty International - behind China, Iran, Egypt and Iraq.
“These individuals, totalling 81, were convicted of various crimes including murdering innocent men, women and children,” said the Kingdom Government in a press release.
“Crimes committed by these individuals also include pledging allegiance to foreign terrorist organisations, such as ISIS, al-Qaeda and the Houthis”.
The Government said that the condemned had been able to exercise “their full rights under Saudi law”. However, rights groups said they are aware of prisoners who have been tortured or denied access to a lawyer.
"There are prisoners of conscience on Saudi death row, and others arrested as children or charged with non-violent crimes," said Soraya Bauwens, Deputy Director of the anti-capital penalty organisation Reprieve.
"We fear for every one of them following this brutal display of impunity.”
Cost of living crisis
A visit to Saudi Arabia by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to take place in the near future, with London keen to lobby Riyadh to increase oil production as the west grapples with soaring oil prices. In recent weeks Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has refused to take the calls of US President Joe Biden with whom he has a strained relationship.
By contrast, the Prince has a much warmer one with Mr Johnson and the pair reportedly message on WhatsApp. However, Reprieve said the west would be making a mistake if it increased its dependence on Saudi oil:
“We cannot show our revulsion for Putin’s atrocities by rewarding those of the Crown Prince,” Ms Bauwens concluded.
JK8PE2 Jordan, Aqaba, oil refinery by the frontier with Saudi ArabiaBeheading
The manner of execution has not yet been reported but the usual method is beheading with a sword; in 2003 one of the state’s executioners gave an interview in which he said he believed he was carrying out “God’s will” and that the process was quick and easy:
"The criminal was tied and blindfolded. With one stroke of the sword I severed his head. It rolled metres away," Muhammad Saad al-Beshi said of his first execution.
"There are many people who faint when they witness an execution. I don't know why they come and watch if they don't have the stomach for it.
"No one is afraid of me. I have a lot of relatives, and many friends at the mosque, and I live a normal life like everyone else. There are no drawbacks for my social life."
Main image: File photo - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MBS) attends a graduation ceremony for Saudi airforce officers at King Faisal Airbase in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia on December 23, 2018. Picture by: Bandar Al Jaloud - Royal Palace / ABACAPRESS.COM
