Saudi Arabia executing ‘horrifying’ number of foreigners for drug crimes

Saudi Arabia has executed 118 people for non-violent drug offences just this year. Nearly 600 people have been put to death since 2014, with 75% of them foreigners. Photograph: Getty

Saudi Arabia has carried out a “horrifying” number of executions for drug crimes over the past decade, most of which were of foreign nationals, according to Amnesty International.

Almost 600 people have been executed over the past decade for drug-related offences, Amnesty International has found, three-quarters of whom were foreign nationals from countries including Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Nigeria and Egypt.