ESOHR: Saudi Arabia is expanding its use of the death penalty

The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR) confirmed that Saudi Arabia is expanding its use of the death penalty and that the largest proportion of executions were based on political charges.

Despite the alleged reforms, the Saudi authorities continue to use the death penalty against dissidents, as part of a retaliatory policy that violates basic standards for fair trials.

According to Al-Ahed website, the ESOHR said that the total of executions last year reached 185 cases, higher than the previous number of 158 in 2015.

“There are currently 49 death threats in the regime’s prisons in various levels of litigation, including 13 minors,” the organization explained, considering that “this increase indicates the inability to address many of the causes leading to crimes, and the expansion of the use of the death penalty.”

The ESOHR affirmed that the largest proportion of executions were based on political charges that are not serious.