RIYADH – Saudi Arabian authorities on Tuesday executed seven death row prisoners who had been convicted of murder and drug trafficking.
Two Saudis and three Chad nationals were executed after being sentenced to death for the kidnapping and murder of a Pakistani security guard during a robbery attempt, said Saudi Interior Ministry.
Another Saudi national was executed for murder after setting a man on fire, while a Lebanese national was beheaded for attempting to smuggle Captagon (drugs) into the kingdom, reported local media.
Saudi Arabia had the third highest execution rate in the world in 2017, after China and Iran, according to Amnesty International.
The country has executed 73 people so far in 2018. In 2017, 122 people were executed and 144 people were executed in 2016.
Saudi Arabia usually carries out death sentences with public beheadings by sword or firing squad.
