Saudi Arabia’s Continued Repressive Executions: The Fourth Political Execution of 2025

Saudi authorities have continued their repressive policies against activists and dissidents, executing citizens Fahd bin Saud bin Hamad Al-Shahri and Sami bin Khalaf bin Aqil Al-Mutairi on vague and broadly defined terrorism charges. This reflects the regime’s ongoing use of the death penalty as a tool for political oppression.

This marks the fourth such execution in 2025, signaling an escalation in unfair sentences against detainees. These executions come amid trials that fail to meet fair standards, where individuals are accused of unclear charges often tied to expressing opinions or engaging in peaceful activism, and are then subjected to opaque legal processes.

These sentences are part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy of criminalizing free expression. Even tweets or personal opinions can lead to harsh punishments, including the death penalty, highlighting the sharp deterioration in human rights conditions within the country.

SANAD Human Rights Organization condemns the executions of Fahd Al-Shahri and Sami Al-Mutairi, viewing them as a continuation of Saudi Arabia’s repressive measures to silence dissent through ambiguous charges unsupported by clear evidence. Such actions underscore the lack of justice and fair trial guarantees in the kingdom.

SANAD stresses that the rise in politically motivated executions in Saudi Arabia reflects the regime’s exploitation of the judiciary as a tool for eliminating opponents and instilling fear in society. The use of terrorism charges for peaceful expression and activism is a clear sign of the dangerous level of repression. The organization calls on the international community to urgently pressure Saudi authorities to end these serious violations and ensure the protection of fundamental human rights.