59 foreign nationals executed in Saudi Arabia during first half of 2024

Saudi Arabia carried out 59 executions of foreign nationals during the first half of 2024, according to reports monitoring capital punishment in the Gulf kingdom. A number of Bangladeshi citizens were among those executed during the six-month period, though specific figures were not immediately available.

The executions reflect Saudi Arabia's extensive use of the death penalty for crimes including murder, drug trafficking, terrorism, and other offences under the kingdom's strict legal system. Foreign nationals, who make up a significant portion of Saudi Arabia's workforce, have historically represented a notable share of those sentenced to capital punishment.

Bangladesh's foreign ministry has previously expressed concern over the execution of Bangladeshi nationals abroad and has appealed to Saudi authorities for clemency in individual cases. Many Bangladeshi migrant workers travel to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states seeking employment opportunities, though they sometimes face legal complications while working abroad.

Human rights organizations have long criticized capital punishment practices in Saudi Arabia, calling for reforms to the judicial system and greater transparency in death penalty cases. The kingdom has maintained that its legal procedures comply with Islamic law and domestic statutes.