Egyptian and international human rights groups have raised serious concerns over the fate of hundreds of prisoners in Saudi Arabia, many of whom face execution on drug-related charges. Among them are 33 Egyptians detained in Tabuk Prison, awaiting the death penalty.
Since the start of 2024, Saudi authorities have significantly increased the number of executions, with troubling reports emerging from inside the prisons. A growing sense of fear and anxiety has reportedly taken hold in Tabuk Prison, where the majority of those sentenced to death for drug offences are Egyptian nationals.
In a statement released on Thursday, the organisations highlighted the execution of eight men in Tabuk this year for drug-related crimes, along with 42 across the country, including three Egyptians.
The statement further criticised the lack of transparency surrounding the executions, citing independent monitors who observed various abuses suffered by those condemned. These violations included the absence of involvement from the Egyptian consulate or embassy, denial of adequate legal defence, failure to appoint lawyers, and the mistreatment and torture of detainees during their arrest and trial.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior has disclosed that those executed for drug charges in 2024 so far hail from a range of nationalities, including Egyptian, Saudi, Syrian, Jordanian, Pakistani, Afghan, Ethiopian, Sudanese, Yemeni, and Nigerian.
The organisations noted that while no official figures exist regarding the total number of individuals sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, it is believed that hundreds from various nationalities are languishing in Saudi prisons on drug-related charges. The lack of transparency, fair legal proceedings, and fears of retaliation prevent many from publicly speaking out about their plight.