Published on: Saturday, March 12, 2022
Saudi Arabia is drawing international criticism for putting 81 people to death in one day. The executions happened on Saturday (article available here).
The executions were announced by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, which did not specify where they occurred, the significance of the timing, or the method of killing — although the kingdom typically beheads convicts.
Up until Saturday, Saudi Arabia in 2022 had executed 11 people convicted of various crimes, according to an AFP tally based on official announcement. This brings the total executed so far this year to 92.
Saudi Arabia’s human rights records have been under increasing scrutiny from rights groups and Western allies since the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.