A grim record. Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it had executed 81 people accused of crimes related to “terrorism” in a single day. This total exceeds the number of death sentences in 2021 in the country, reports the official news agency SPA.
Those executed – 73 Saudis, 7 Yemenis and a Syrian – are accused of belonging to several “terrorist” groups, including Daesh and Houthi rebels in Yemen, adds SPA.
One of the highest execution rates in the world
According to the agency, they tried to foment several attacks in the kingdom, in particular against places of worship, government buildings, as well as “vital installations for the country’s economy”. They are also accused of attempting to kill law enforcement officers and smuggling weapons. Still according to SPA, each of the culprits was “convicted by Saudi courts during trials supervised by 13 judges”.
Saudi Arabia has one of the highest execution rates in the world, with 69 death sentences in 2021, according to an AFP tally based on official statements.