Saudi Arabia is among the countries carrying out the most executions. Human rights group Reprieve has said there have been a further 16 executions since then, and 108 in total so far this year. Rights organisations say many do not receive fair trials in Saudi Arabia, an allegation the government rejects. Saudi Arabia’s international standing was severely damaged by the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist who was a prominent critic of the government. Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and other senior officials were incriminated. In 2018, Saudi authorities arrested 13 women’s rights activists who had led a campaign to lift a ban on women driving. Women’s rights activists have not been the only people detained as part of a crackdown against critics in Saudi Arabia, where political parties, trade unions and independent human rights groups are banned. Saudi Arabia has been heavily criticised for a military campaign in neighbouring Yemen that has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.

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