In Tabuk prison, in the north of Saudi Arabia, 28 Egyptian nationals are currently facing the death penalty. Their execution could happen at any moment. Since the start of 2025, 10 Egyptians held in the same cell block have already been executed—most on drug-related charges. The rest now live under constant psychological pressure, fearing they will be next.
The situation in Tabuk reflects a wider pattern of abuse, but it is also a crisis in its own right. According to the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR), the Egyptian detainees have endured physical torture, prolonged solitary confinement, overcrowded cells, and constant psychological intimidation. Many were promised sentence reductions—both informally by guards and formally through public statements by Saudi authorities—only to have those promises broken. On November 27, 2024, the prison administration transferred all death row inmates into one overcrowded room with no beds, where they remained for over two months. Families have been denied contact, and relatives in Egypt who spoke out were reportedly summoned or intimidated by authorities. In February 2025, several of the detainees began a hunger strike in protest against the denial of phone access and humiliating treatment during medical transfers. On April 17, a Sudanese prisoner was executed without prior notice, causing panic among the Egyptians who feared they could be next.
This case is not isolated. It’s part of a larger trend. In 2024, Saudi Arabia carried out 345 executions, the highest number in the country’s recent history. At least 138 of those executed were foreign nationals, over 30% of the total. The majority were sentenced under Taazir, a legal category that allows judges to issue death sentences at their discretion. Drug-related charges made up 35% of all executions in 2024.
The pattern has continued into 2025. According to a new ESOHR report, Saudi Arabia executed 100 people in the first four months of the year, with 70% of those executions linked to drug or political charges. Foreign nationals made up 43% of those killed. Of the 59 drug-related executions, 20 involved charges related to hashish alone. These are offenses that do not meet the threshold of “most serious crimes” under international law. Most of these cases, including those in Tabuk, involved serious violations such as torture and denial of legal defense.
The Egyptian government has so far remained silent. Despite repeated calls for intervention, including from the families of those detained, no public statement or action has been made. This silence is part of a wider pattern: most governments whose citizens were executed in Saudi Arabia last year also failed to act. Foreign nationals are often left without translators, lawyers, or consular access throughout their trials.
The repression doesn’t end with executions or prison sentences. Even those who are released often find themselves under continued state control. Many face post-release restrictions, including arbitrary travel bans, bans on public expression, and the threat of re-arrest. Some are monitored electronically or forced to sign pledges not to speak about their experience. These measures not only isolate former detainees but also extend punishment to their families, deepening the climate of fear and silencing dissent long after a prison term has ended.
Saudi Arabia continues to promote itself as a modern, reforming state. It hosts major international events, signs investment deals, and seeks global partnerships. But behind this image lies a brutal system of repression, where executions are used as a tool of fear, control, and silence. The international community must not look away especially when the lives of foreign nationals, political prisoners, and their families hang in the balance.