Saudi Arabia Executes Two Men Over ‘Terrorism’ Charges

Riyadh (Terror Monitor) — Saudi Arabia executed two men convicted of terrorism-related offences on Saturday, November 14, 2026, including one who was reportedly just 14 years old when he committed some of the alleged offences, according to a London-based human rights organisation.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced that Fadel bin Hassan al-Safwani and Jawad bin Abdullah al-Qureiris, both Saudi nationals, were executed in the kingdom’s Eastern Province after their death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court.

According to a statement published by the ministry, the two men were convicted of several offences, including joining a foreign terrorist organisation, opening fire on security personnel and vehicles, possessing firearms and ammunition, and providing financial and operational support for terrorist activities inside the kingdom.

The ministry said the sentences had been reviewed and upheld by the relevant judicial authorities, including the Supreme Court, before being carried out.

However, the executions have drawn renewed criticism from human rights advocates over allegations that one of the men was a child when some of the alleged offences took place.

London-based human rights organisation Reprieve said Jawad al-Qureiris was arrested in December 2020 over allegations linked to his participation in protests and activities on social media.

According to the organisation, al-Qureiris was only 14 years old at the time of the protests.

Reprieve further alleged that he was subjected to torture during detention and forced to confess to crimes he had not committed.

The organisation has raised concerns over Saudi Arabia's use of the death penalty against individuals accused of offences committed while they were children, arguing that such executions violate international human rights standards.

The latest executions come amid growing international scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's application of capital punishment, particularly in cases involving terrorism-related allegations and national security offences.

According to Reprieve, Saudi Arabia has executed five people since August 2025 for alleged crimes committed when they were under the age of 18.

Amnesty International has also documented the kingdom's extensive use of capital punishment. Its annual report on death sentences and executions found that Saudi Arabia executed at least 356 people in 2025, the highest annual figure recorded in the country.

In its assessment covering 2022 to 2025, Amnesty International ranked Saudi Arabia third among countries carrying out the highest numbers of executions, behind China and Iran.

China's execution figures remain classified as state secrets, making it difficult to establish an exact global ranking.

Amnesty International has repeatedly called on Saudi authorities to halt executions, particularly in cases involving alleged crimes committed by minors, and has urged governments to work towards abolishing the death penalty.

The Saudi government maintains that capital punishment is imposed following judicial proceedings against individuals convicted of serious crimes. However, rights organisations continue to question the fairness of some trials and the treatment of detainees during investigations.

Sources and agency reporting: The report incorporates the November 14 AFP dispatch, Saudi Ministry of Interior information, Reprieve's reporting on child defendants, and Amnesty International's latest death-penalty statistics.