The Execution of Ahmad Al-Hammadi Exposes the Politicized Nature of Saudi Judiciary

Today, Saudi authorities carried out the execution of Saudi citizen Ahmad bin Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Hammadi, marking the 23rd politically motivated execution in the Kingdom since the beginning of 2025, according to documentation by Sanad Human Rights Organization. The case is yet another example of the regime’s systematic use of the judiciary as a tool to silence dissent under the guise of “counterterrorism.”

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior, Al-Hammadi was charged with vague offenses such as “joining terrorist organizations,” “disrupting national security,” and “harboring wanted individuals.” However, the statement failed to mention the name of any specific organization or present evidence of any actual criminal act, such as murder or attempted attacks.

Sanad emphasizes that all politically motivated executions must be halted immediately, and asserts that the ministry’s statement fails to justify the death penalty on any legal grounds. Notably, no specific law or article was cited to legitimize the sentence, revealing a clear intent by Saudi authorities to use capital punishment as a political weapon.

This execution fits into a disturbing pattern where terrorism-related charges are exploited to eliminate individuals for their political beliefs or human rights activism. Previously, journalist Turki Al-Jasser was executed over tweets from an anonymous account, and Dhafir Al-Shahri met a similar fate after sharing critical views online.

Ambiguous accusations such as “destabilizing national security” or “communicating with suspicious entities” are routinely used to stage show trials that lack the minimum standards of due process and justice.

Sanad Human Rights Organization strongly condemns this execution and warns that the rising number of political executions indicates a collapse of judicial safeguards and the conversion of the legal system into an instrument of state repression rather than a means of justice.

The organization calls for:

An immediate moratorium on all political and discretionary executions,

Full transparency regarding all trials and the guarantee of fair trial standards,

Independent international oversight of judicial processes,

And accountability for all officials involved in issuing and carrying out death sentences — foremost among them Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Sanad urges the international community to take clear and decisive action to stop the ongoing human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, particularly those that threaten the right to life and freedom of expression.