Execution of 188 people this year: Saudi Arabia executes 5 people convicted of 'terrorism'

Saudi authorities executed 5 people in the Eastern Province after their conviction on 'terrorism' charges, raising the number of executions carried out since the beginning of the year to 188. The Interior Ministry said the convicts committed crimes including joining an external terrorist organization and opening fire on security forces. Of the 188 people executed this year, 88 are Saudis and 115 were on drug trafficking charges.

Saudi authorities executed five people in the Eastern Province after their conviction on 'terrorism' charges, according to an announcement by the Interior Ministry, raising the number of executions carried out since the beginning of the year to 188. The ministry said the five men committed 'terrorist crimes including joining an external terrorist organization, repeatedly opening fire on security forces, possessing weapons, and providing support for financing and carrying out terrorist operations inside the kingdom.' The executions were carried out in the oil-rich Eastern Province. Since January, Saudi Arabia has carried out 15 executions on 'terrorism' charges, most of them in the east of the country, compared to 40 in 2025. Of the 188 people executed this year, 88 are Saudis, while the number of those sentenced to death on drug trafficking charges reached 115, including 79 foreigners, according to a count.