Execution of Sultan Al-Shehri: The 30th Political Execution in Saudi Arabia Since Early 2025
On Tuesday, 9 September 2025, Saudi authorities executed Sultan bin Amer bin Abdullah Al-Shehri, marking the 30th political execution since the beginning of the year. This brings the total number of executions in 2025 close to 300, reflecting an unprecedented escalation by the Saudi authorities.
According to a statement by the Saudi Ministry of Interior, Al-Shehri was charged with “joining a terrorist organization,” without specifying which organization, as well as “harboring wanted individuals” and “manufacturing weapons.”
Sanad Human Rights Organization views the repeated use of vague charges such as “belonging to a terrorist group” or “harboring fugitives” as part of a systematic pattern by Saudi authorities to eliminate political opponents and silence independent voices, in the absence of transparency and fair-trial guarantees. This year alone, executions on political grounds have included a journalist and minors, highlighting the dangerous use of the judiciary as a tool for political killings.
Despite the severity of the punishment, the official statement failed to cite any specific act that would legally justify the imposition of ta’zir (discretionary) execution under Saudi Arabia’s counter-terrorism or criminal procedure laws.
This execution reflects a broader context in which the judiciary is weaponized to silence dissent, in direct violation of international law and fundamental human rights, foremost among them the right to life.
Sanad Human Rights Organization strongly condemns this execution, stressing that the escalation of politically motivated executions underscores the collapse of the justice system and its transformation into a tool of repression. Sanad calls for the immediate halt of all political and discretionary executions, full disclosure of trial details, independent international monitoring, and accountability for those responsible for issuing and carrying out these sentences — foremost Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
