This was the largest mass execution carried out by the kingdom in its modern history. Saudi Arabia executed 81 people on Saturday who had been convicted of crimes including killings and belonging to militant groups.
There were more people executed than were executed in the January 1980 mass execution of those suspected of seizing the Grand Mosque in Mecca. At that time, 63 people were executed.
According to the State run Saudi Press Agency, the executions were carried out on Saturday among various criminals including those convicted of killing innocent men, women, and children.
Also, some of those executed were al-Qaida members, members of the Islamic State group, and supporters of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to the kingdom.
An opposition Shiite cleric who led demonstrations in the kingdom was among the 47 people executed in the kingdom’s last mass execution in January 2016.
37 Saudi citizens were executed in mass executions throughout the kingdom in 2019 after they allegedly committed acts of terrorism. Most were Shiites of minorities.
According to Saudi press agency, It was found that the accused had committed multiple heinous crimes that left a large number of civilians and law enforcement officers dead, and were granted the right to an attorney and their full rights under Saudi law during the judicial process.
The report added, Saudi Arabia will remain vigilant and unwavering stance in its fight against terrorism and extremist ideologies that pose a threat to the stability of the world.
