Ali Al-Zahrani: The 8th Political Execution in Saudi Arabia in 2025
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Saudi authorities carried out the execution of Ali bin Mousa Al-Zahrani in the Qassim region. According to an official statement from the Ministry of Interior, Al-Zahrani was charged with a series of vague and broad accusations, including “joining a terrorist organization,” “financing terrorism,” and “training fighters” — without naming the alleged group or providing any concrete evidence to support the claims. This lack of transparency is a recurring pattern in politically motivated cases in Saudi Arabia, where general terminology is used to justify harsh penalties without legal clarity or due process.
Sanad Human Rights Organization strongly condemns the use of fabricated charges to silence dissent. Saudi authorities have long exploited the judiciary as a tool for political repression, as evidenced in previous executions. One such case was that of Abdulmajeed Al-Nimr, who was convicted of joining Al-Qaeda — a claim that contradicts his Shia background and defies the sectarian nature of the group. Another case was Dhafir Al-Shihri, executed over a tweet deemed a “security threat,” despite the absence of any actionable offense.
Trials in such cases are held before the Specialized Criminal Court, which is notorious for violating fair trial standards. Proceedings often occur behind closed doors, defendants are routinely denied access to legal counsel, and independent human rights observers are barred. According to findings by global rights organizations and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), many convictions are based on coerced confessions obtained under torture or threats.
Sanad warns that continuing to carry out political executions without clear evidence or fair trials constitutes a grave violation of human rights and seriously undermines the credibility of the Saudi judiciary. The execution of Al-Zahrani marks the eighth political execution in 2025, signaling an alarming escalation in the use of capital punishment as a tool to silence opposition and eliminate dissenting voices.
Sanad reiterates its call for an immediate moratorium on all politically motivated death sentences and urges an independent international investigation into these cases to uncover the truth and deliver justice for the victims. The organization also appeals to the international community, the United Nations, and the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions to take urgent action to prevent further executions and protect the lives of innocent detainees.
