Saudi Arabia is conducting more executions than in decades, but predominantly of drug smugglers who are associated with Captagon, a synthetic or chemical drug that is widely used in the Middle East. From early 2025, of 217 executions, 144 were drug-related. Captagon is used predominantly by rich young Saudis but distributed by poor immigrant dealers, most of whom risk the death penalty. Human rights organizations condemn these executions, particularly those of foreigners, as unjust and harmful to the reputation of Saudi Arabia. Following a pause in executions for drug offenses, Saudi Arabia resumed them towards the end of 2022, resulting in a rush due to a backlog. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman views this tough crackdown as being required to defend society against drugs as well as to appease conservative segments of the population.
Pray for wise counsel for the authorities to curb the drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East. Pray that the perpetrators of the drug trafficking rings are quickly brought to justice (The Holy Bible, Job 36:6).
Pray for the Saudi government to abide by international human rights and to stop the executions. Pray that all in the nation have the ‘right to live’. Pray for justice to prevail in the country (The Holy Bible, Psalm 82:3).
GOD of all comfort and hope, bless the people of Saudi Arabia, especially the youth, with hope and a bright future. Deliver them from their addictions, mental illness, hopelessness, and other evil things that are haunting them. In Jesus’s Name, we pray. Amen (The Holy Bible, Jeremiah 29:11).
News Source: France24
Image Source: Canva
