Saudi Arabia’s execution rate for drug-related offenses has surged dramatically in 2025, with authorities executing 118 people in the first six months alone, while human rights organizations escalate pressure over the pending execution of Kenyan domestic worker Stephen Munyakho, whose case has become emblematic of the kingdom’s controversial capital punishment policies.
Saudi Arabian authorities executed at least 88 people between January and April 2025, including 52 individuals convicted of drug-related crimes, according to human rights monitoring organizations. The execution pace represents a significant acceleration from the 122 drug-related executions carried out throughout all of 2024, signaling an intensification of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s judicial policies.
The surge coincides with mounting international scrutiny over the case of Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan domestic worker facing execution despite appeals from Kenyan President William Ruto and human rights groups worldwide. Munyakho’s situation has drawn attention to Saudi Arabia’s treatment of foreign workers and the kingdom’s expanding use of capital punishment for non-violent drug offenses.
Saudi Arabia’s current execution trajectory marks a dramatic reversal from previous reform promises. In 2022, the kingdom briefly signaled potential moderation when officials suggested reducing executions for drug crimes. However, under the continued leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the kingdom has instead accelerated its use of capital punishment.
The 2025 execution rate puts Saudi Arabia on track to potentially exceed its 2023 record of 196 total executions, the highest number recorded by human rights organizations since the 1990s. International legal experts note that the majority of recent executions involve foreign nationals, particularly workers from South Asian and African countries.
Kenyan President William Ruto has personally intervened in Munyakho’s case, making direct appeals to Saudi leadership during diplomatic meetings. The African Union and United Nations Special Rapporteurs have also called for clemency, arguing that Saudi Arabia’s death penalty practices violate international human rights standards.
European Union representatives have expressed concern about the kingdom’s execution policies during recent diplomatic exchanges, particularly regarding cases involving migrant workers who may not have received adequate legal representation. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented numerous cases where defendants faced language barriers and limited access to legal counsel.
The execution surge occurs as Saudi Arabia pursues its Vision 2030 economic diversification program, which relies heavily on international investment and diplomatic partnerships. Legal experts suggest the kingdom’s human rights record could impact its efforts to attract foreign investment and improve international relations.
Kenya’s government has threatened to review its labor export agreements with Saudi Arabia if Munyakho’s execution proceeds, potentially affecting the estimated 100,000 Kenyan workers currently employed in the kingdom. Similar concerns have emerged from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other countries whose citizens face execution in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi officials have justified the increased executions as necessary for combating drug trafficking networks that they claim threaten regional stability. The kingdom’s Interior Ministry has linked drug crimes to broader security concerns, including smuggling operations connected to conflicts in Yemen and Syria.
However, international legal experts argue that many of the executed individuals were low-level offenders rather than major trafficking figures. Recent cases include domestic workers and laborers convicted of possessing small quantities of drugs, raising questions about proportionality in sentencing.
Looking Ahead
Human rights organizations predict Saudi Arabia’s execution rate could reach unprecedented levels in 2025 if current trends continue. The outcome of Munyakho’s case is expected to serve as a bellwether for international responses to the kingdom’s capital punishment policies.
Legal advocates are calling for coordinated international pressure, including potential diplomatic sanctions and restrictions on labor exports to Saudi Arabia. The case has also renewed discussions within the United Nations about mechanisms for protecting migrant workers in countries with extensive use of capital punishment.
This article connects to ongoing coverage of Saudi Arabia’s judicial system, Middle East human rights developments, and international diplomatic responses to capital punishment policies. Related coverage includes analysis of migrant worker protections and regional security implications of drug trafficking prosecutions.