Saudi Arabia sentenced 8 people to death on Saturday. In this, seven more people were hanged in the case of killing their mother in cases related to drug smuggling. This information was given by the government news agency Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

According to the SPA, four Somali and three Ethiopian citizens were sentenced to death on charges of “Hashish’s smuggling” in the southern region Najraran. All were convicted in the case related to drugs.

So far 230 people have been hanged in 2025
According to the AFP report, since the beginning of 2025, 230 people have been hanged in Saudi Arabia so far. Of these, 154 people have been sentenced to death in cases related to drugs.

2024 records can also leave 2025
According to experts, the hanging speed in 2025 can cross the 2024 figures. Last year, 338 people were sentenced to death. This increase is believed to be the result of the “War against drugs” launched in 2023.

Fans increased due to “War on Drugs” started from 2023
Analysts believe that the number of fans has increased due to the “War on Drugs” campaign against drugs. Under this campaign started in 2023, the arrested people are now being punished.

What happened so far on the hanging of drugs
2019-2022: There was a ban on hanging in drug cases for almost three years.
2022: 19 people were hanged in drug cases.
2023: Only 2 people were hanged.
2024: 117 people were punished in case of drugs.
2025: So far, 154 fans have been done only in drug cases.

Criticism and government side
Human rights activists are criticizing Saudi Arabia’s policy of constantly hanging. He says that it damages the image of the country’s “open and tolerant society”, which is part of the Vision 2030 scheme of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At the same time, the Saudi government says that “death punishment is necessary to maintain public system and it is given only after the final appeal is rejected.”

Nimisha priya: Relief from the hanging of Nimisha Priya seems to be winding up after some time. Now Talal Abdo Mehdi’s brother Abdelfattah Mehdi insisted that he will not accept blood money. There can be no apology for this crime. Abdelfattah said that Nimisha Priya will have to be punished. He also expressed displeasure over the Indian media calling Nimisha a victim.

Nimisha Priya was to be hanged on Wednesday i.e. today (16 May 2025), but the hanging was postponed after a long period of conversation. This includes efforts from many parties, which besides the Government of India, in addition to the Government of India, agencies in Saudi Arabia and Grand Mufti of Kanthapuram AP. The religious intervention of Abubakar Muslim was involved, who allegedly approached the Shura Council of Yemen for mediation. Due to all these efforts, it has been decided to postpone the hanging till further orders.

‘Our family has rejected all the offers of the agreement’

While postponing the hanging, it was said that Nimisha Priya’s family will be given time to persuade Talal’s family for blood money, but it seems difficult. Talal’s brother says that he will not accept blood money. Talal’s brother Abdelfattah Mehdi said that our family has rejected all the offers of the agreement. We want the brother’s murderer to get punishment-a-death. On the question of forgiveness, Abdelfateh Mehdi said that this is a very serious crime and no forgiveness can be given in it.

Allah is with us-Abdelfatah Mehdi

Abdelfattah Mehdi said in a strict tone that blood cannot be bought. We will not stop by postponing the punishment. Justice cannot be forgotten. There will be justice and even if it takes time. This is just a matter of some time and Allah is with us. Let us know that on Monday too, Abdelfattah Mehdi said the same thing during the BBC’s interaction with Arabic service, he has also shared a post on social media. Regarding this matter, State CPI -M Secretary MV Govindan said on Wednesday that the Muslim has told me that the death sentence has been postponed and many other aspects are also being discussed.

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Journalist Executed in Saudi Arabia: A well-known Saudi journalist Turkish al-Jasir has been hanged in Saudi Arabia. The journalist was arrested in the year 2018 on charges of terrorism and treason. The Saudi government has given this information. However, human rights organizations have described the allegations leveled against journalists as concocted and false.

According to Saudi’s official press agency, journalist Turkey Al Jasir was over 40 years of age, who was hanged on 14 June after the country’s Supreme Court order. In the year 2018, Saudi Arabia officials raided Al-Jasir’s house from where Jasir was arrested and his computer and phone were confiscated. However, it is not yet clear where and how long the case against the journalist was.

Saudi officials accused Al Jasir

According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Saudi officials said that Turkish al-Jasir operated an account on the social media platform X, through which he had made allegations of corruption against the Saudi’s royal family. Apart from this, Al-Jasir also made many controversial tweets regarding terrorists and terrorist organizations.

Cpj Program director of condemn the execution of a journalist

CPJ’s program director Carlos Martinease de La Serna strongly condemned the execution of the journalist in Saudi Arabia. Apart from this, he said, “Jamal Khashogi, a columnist of Washington Post Jamal Khashogi in the year 2018, is still continuing to punish journalists in Saudi Arabia due to lack of accountability after murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.”

He further said, ‘After the murder of Jamal Khashogi, the international community was not just a deception of him, but his inaction gave Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman’s rule more strength to continue action against the press. “