Saudi authorities have executed Hassan Zaki al-Faraj, who was convicted of offenses allegedly committed when he was just 14 years old, according to Human Rights Watch and other rights groups. The execution, announced by officials on October 17, has drawn sharp criticism from international observers and advocates.
Al-Faraj was arrested in 2017 and accused of various counterterrorism offenses, including one charge related to actions taken as a child. Human Rights Watch reports that he was held in solitary confinement for six months and later sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court in November 2022. Rights groups say his conviction was based in part on confessions allegedly obtained under torture.
The case has reignited concerns over Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty for crimes committed by minors. In 2020, Saudi authorities claimed to have abolished capital punishment for childhood offenses, but human rights organizations contend that executions for such crimes have continued. Human Rights Watch noted that in 2025, at least two other individuals accused of crimes as children were also executed, despite international calls to halt the practice.
According to reports, al-Faraj’s alleged offenses included participating in protests over the kingdom’s treatment of its Shia minority. The execution was reportedly carried out without prior notice to his family, a practice that rights groups have repeatedly condemned.
Saudi Arabia has faced mounting criticism over its high execution rates. The Independent and Human Rights Watch both highlighted that the kingdom carried out 347 executions last year, the highest annual figure on record, despite official efforts to improve its international image and promote legal reforms.
International human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have called on Saudi authorities to halt executions for crimes committed by minors and to ensure fair trials that meet international standards. UN experts have previously urged the kingdom to respect its commitments under international law, which prohibits the execution of individuals for offenses committed under the age of 18.
Saudi officials have not publicly responded to the latest wave of criticism. The lack of transparency surrounding al-Faraj’s case and the continued use of the death penalty for childhood offenses have fueled calls for greater accountability and legal reform in the kingdom.
It remains unclear whether Saudi authorities will reconsider their position on the death penalty for minors, as rights groups warn that others convicted of childhood offenses may still be at risk of execution.
The image accompanying this article is an AI-generated illustrative depiction inspired by the actual scene of the event.
