Saudi Arabia executes seven people in one day, annual total passes 100

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia executed seven people in a single day, bringing the number of executions carried out since the start of 2026 to 100, the official Saudi news agency WAM reported on Wednesday. Five Ethiopians convicted of drug trafficking were executed in the Asir region, while two Saudi nationals found guilty of killing another Saudi citizen were put to death in the southern city of Najran the same day. According to the agency, 65 of those executed this year had been convicted of drug-related offenses. Saudi Arabia has faced repeated international criticism over its use of the death penalty, particularly in cases involving drug smuggling. Amnesty International described reaching the 100-execution threshold before the end of the first half of the year as "a dark turning point," saying the penalty is being applied in a manner the rights group considers illegal and contrary to conscience. Saudi Arabia ranked third worldwide in executions between 2022 and 2025, behind China and Iran, according to data cited by the group.