Seven Egyptian nationals are on death row in Saudi prisons, awaiting execution at any moment. No prior notice. No scheduled date. No final chance. They go to sleep each night unsure if the morning will be their last. Their families live in constant terror, every phone call carrying the weight of devastating news.
There is no justification for this brutal scene other than a regime that has grown accustomed to crushing the poor and migrant workers in the shadows—while polishing its global image through sports investments and flashy PR. These death sentences are not built on fair trials, but on confessions extracted under torture, as documented by rights groups like Reprieve, amid complete disregard for justice and a judiciary that rubber-stamps repression.
A Judiciary Hijacked: Courts as an Arm of State Security
In 2022, a court in Tabuk sentenced young Egyptian Essam Al-Shazly to death, despite his claims that he had been forced at gunpoint to swallow packets containing drugs without knowing what they were. Al-Shazly was tortured for three days, denied sleep, and coerced into signing confessions, according to a voice recording he sent to his mother.
Still, the court ignored it all. The death sentence was upheld by both the appeals court and the Supreme Court—showcasing a shocking collapse of justice.
Reprieve confirmed that Al-Shazly was a victim of human trafficking, a fact Saudi courts deliberately refused to acknowledge, in blatant violation of international standards. Like many others, he was denied legal representation at every stage—during both investigation and trial. In Saudi Arabia, justice is built on the principle: Confess or die.
Saudi “Justice”: A System Rigged Against the Poor
The Saudi regime doesn’t enforce the law—it weaponises it. Those with wealth or influence walk free, while the poor are buried alive in interrogation cells.
While Egyptian workers face death sentences for allegedly possessing small amounts of drugs, Saudi royals accused of large-scale narcotics trafficking enjoy total immunity. International reports have documented the involvement of Saudi princes in major drug smuggling operations—with zero accountability.
Where is the justice?
Saudi justice isn’t distributed—it’s sold. It’s not applied—it’s exploited as a tool of fear and domination.
Silent Horror: Execution Without Notification
One of the regime’s most disturbing practices is executing prisoners without notifying families or allowing a final farewell or legal objection. The sister of detainee Ramy Al-Naggar says families “know nothing.” Executions happen without warning—one morning, the sentence is suddenly carried out.
This terror isn’t confined to prison walls. It reaches into Egyptian homes, turning every phone call into a potential death sentence. Parents live sleepless. Siblings drown in fear. Hope erodes day by day, amid Egypt’s shameful silence and diplomatic impotence.
From Victims to Criminals: How Saudi Courts Ignore Human Trafficking
Al-Shazly’s case is not an exception—it reflects a systematic pattern. Many foreign workers fall prey to trafficking networks and are forced to carry or transport items without knowing their contents. Instead of treating them as victims, the Saudi regime brands them as criminals, sentencing them to death to maintain its illusion of “toughness” in fighting drugs.
The irony is that this “toughness” never applies to the real traffickers—those operating the large networks or even insiders within state structures. Only the weak are dragged to the scaffold, with no remorse.
Where Is the Egyptian State? Silence as a License to Kill
Egypt, the Saudi regime’s loyal political and economic partner, hasn’t even publicly called for halting these executions. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry remains shamefully silent, as if the lives of these citizens are irrelevant—bartered away for oil deals and foreign aid.
This failure is not just passive neglect—it is complicity. A state that surrenders its own people doesn’t deserve respect. Egypt’s silence gives Saudi Arabia the green light to continue the abuse and signals that every Egyptian worker in the Gulf is a potential future victim.
Legal Duality: Murder in the Name of Law and Order
Mohammed bin Salman’s regime uses law not for justice—but for political and social assassination. Courts lack transparency, confessions are extracted through torture, and judges serve the orders of security services rather than justice.
In Saudi courts, it doesn’t matter if the charges are real or fabricated. What matters is the political message: the regime is merciless, deaf to appeals, and above accountability. This is the core of justice in today’s Saudi Arabia—performative, punitive, and repressive.
The Bigger Picture: A Regime That Relies on Blood to Prove Its Authority
Bin Salman knows his rule lacks real legitimacy. That’s why he relies on fear—mass arrests, political executions, and arbitrary verdicts.
Executing migrant workers isn’t just a display of state power. It’s a calculated act of terror. A message: there’s no safety for anyone, citizen or expat. Step out of line, and the noose awaits.
A Regime That Kills the Innocent Has No Future
Saudi Arabia isn’t carrying out executions—it is committing crimes under legal disguise.
A state that denies trafficking victims their rights, uses torture to extract confessions, bars access to lawyers, and conducts secret executions cannot claim to be governed by law. It is a police regime where justice is a façade and fear is policy.
Execution without justice is a crime. And today, the Saudi regime uses it not for public safety—but to maintain control.
Unless the international community intervenes and voices rise to stop these abuses, more innocent people will be led to their deaths—silently, unjustly, and without a single voice raised in their defense.
