UN Slams Saudi Arabia for Executions

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A United Nations group has slammed Saudi Arabia for executing two Egyptians on drug charges last year.

The men, a driver and a carpenter, were put to death despite what the UN says were serious violations of their rights.

The working group on arbitrary detention ruled that their arrests lack legal basis and their trials were unfair, making the executions indefensible.

This week, the group released its findings, stating that deaths broke basic human rights rules.

They happened after Saudi Arabia lifted a pause on capital punishment for drug crimes in 2022.

The UN panel is now urging Saudi leaders to pay compensation to the families, return the bodies, and restart that moratorium on executions for drugs.

They also warned of a possible pattern of wrongful detentions in the kingdom.

Saudi officials pushed back, insisting the men got fair public trials, and that drug offenses deserve the harshest penalties, just like murder.

Rights advocates point out Saudi Arabia has ramped up executions lately, hitting foreigners hard on drug cases.

Groups tracking this say many more people, mostly non-Saudis, now face the same fate.

While the UN group cannot force changes, its reports often spark legal wins and releases for detainees.

Activists hope this spotlight will push for mercy in other pending cases.

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