UN High Commissioner Volker Türk has expressed serious concern over a 31% rise in global executions, with Saudi Arabia being a leading country. He emphasized the contradiction of the death penalty to human dignity and noted that many executions are linked to drug offenses, despite international restrictions. The death penalty remains a contentious issue, particularly regarding its discriminatory effects and impact on marginalized communities.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has raised significant alarm regarding the rising global trend in executions, with Saudi Arabia identified as a leading nation in this regard. In 2023, the number of executions surged by 31% from the previous year, marking the highest figure recorded in eight years. This alarming trend highlights the persistent use of the death penalty in various jurisdictions worldwide.
During his address at the Human Rights Council on February 25, 2025, Mr. Türk underscored the inherent contradiction of the death penalty to the right to life and human dignity. He emphasized that over 40% of global executions stem from drug-related offenses, which, according to international human rights laws, should be reserved for the most serious crimes such as premeditated murder.
Mr. Türk noted that while 113 countries have abolished the death penalty, many, including Saudi Arabia, continue to conduct executions at alarming rates. This not only affects the individuals sentenced to death but also has devastating repercussions for their families and communities at large. The enduring practice of capital punishment raises significant concerns regarding justice and humane treatment.
Furthermore, the Commissioner highlighted that the death penalty often exhibits systemic discrimination, disproportionately impacting ethnic and religious minorities and marginalized groups. He expressed concern that its existence can facilitate the repression of civil liberties and threaten the safety of activists and human rights defenders worldwide.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights corroborated Mr. Türk’s statements, indicating that Saudi Arabia plays a significant role in the uptick of global executions. They reported that since the start of 2025, the kingdom has conducted 65 executions, with 33 of these linked to drug offenses, despite such crimes not qualifying under international law’s definition of most serious crimes.
In conclusion, Mr. Türk urged nations that still uphold the death penalty to cease its implementation immediately and to consider more humane judicial alternatives. He reiterated that capital punishment fails to deliver justice or deter crime and carries the grave risk of executing innocent individuals due to irreversible judicial errors.
The UN High Commissioner’s warning about the increasing executions globally, especially by Saudi Arabia, raises critical human rights concerns. Although there is a global trend towards abolishing the death penalty, certain nations perpetuate its usage, often at the expense of fundamental rights and justice. Urgent calls for suspension and reevaluation of capital punishment practices are necessary to protect the rights of all individuals.
Original Source: shiawaves.com
