Six Iranian citizens were executed in Saudi Arabia’s coastal city of Dammam for drug smuggling, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The individuals were found guilty of smuggling hashish into the country using covert methods, though the timing of the executions was not disclosed. Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia has executed 117 people in 2024 for drug-related offenses.
Read more: Big crackdown against drug smugglers
In 2023, Saudi authorities intensified their anti-drug efforts, conducting widespread raids and arrests. Amnesty International ranked Saudi Arabia third globally for executions that year, following China and Iran.
While human rights organizations criticize the practice, Saudi officials defend the death penalty as vital for public order, emphasizing that executions are only carried out after all appeals have been exhausted.
