Following the increase in executions of Afghan citizens in Iran, the Ministry of the Interior of the Islamic Republic condemned the execution of six of its citizens in Saudi Arabia and emphasized that the carrying out of executions without prior notice to the Iranian embassy “violates international legal norms, including the Consular Relations Convention.”
The Ministry of the Interior of Saudi Arabia announced that six Iranian citizens were executed in the city of Dammam for drug trafficking.
The Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday, January 1 reported that these individuals had been convicted of drug trafficking.
The Ministry of the Interior of Saudi Arabia did not provide details on the identities or exact dates of the executions.
The Iranian Ministry condemned the execution of its citizens in Saudi Arabia and summoned the Saudi Ambassador in Tehran.
According to information from the Director-General of Consular Affairs at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these individuals had been sentenced to death by the Saudi judiciary years ago for drug trafficking offenses.
The Iranian consular official emphasized that the country had been in talks with Saudi Arabia for a reduction in punishment and to offer consular services to these individuals.
This Iranian official called the execution of these individuals without informing the Iranian embassy “unacceptable” and added that it was “a violation of international legal norms, including the Consular Relations Convention.”
This comes at a time when executions, including those of Afghan citizens, have significantly increased in Iran in recent months, primarily for offenses related to drug trafficking and premeditated murder.
Recently, the Iranian human rights organization “Hengaw” reported the execution of an Afghan citizen in Qezel Hesar prison in Iran at the beginning of the year 2025.
According to the statistics from the Iranian Human Rights Organization, in 2024, around 300 people were executed in various prisons in the country, including 72 Afghan citizens.
According to the “Execution Information Center,” the number of recorded executions worldwide in 2024 increased for the third consecutive year.
Among these countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq top the list for executions.
According to data from this organization, Saudi Arabia carried out 303 executions in 2024, the highest number in the country’s history.
The execution of both Iranian and Afghan citizens in countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran reflects the continuing global concern over capital punishment. While some nations see it as a legal deterrent, human rights organizations argue that it raises serious concerns about due process, human dignity, and the potential for unjust executions.
In response to these executions, calls for international scrutiny and reform of capital punishment practices have intensified. The Islamic Republic of Iran, along with other countries in the region, must address the broader human rights issues surrounding this practice, ensuring that citizens are provided fair trials and that international norms regarding consular access are respected.
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