Saudi Arabia executes five men in Eastern Province over terrorism charges

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said it has carried out the death sentences of five citizens in the Eastern Province on charges of involvement in terrorist activities.

The men were accused of joining foreign terrorist groups, shooting at security forces, possessing weapons and providing financial support for terrorist operations inside Saudi Arabia. With these executions, the number of executions announced in Saudi Arabia this year has risen to 188.

According to reports, since the start of this year Saudi Arabia has carried out 15 executions linked to terrorism charges, most of them in the Eastern Province, which has a largely Shiite population. The figure is lower than the 40 executions carried out last year.

Saudi authorities typically do not disclose precise details of the charges against those sentenced to death, and instead refer only in general terms to security-related crimes. This approach has heightened concerns over human rights and freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia.