Saudi Arabia’s execution of journalist Turki Al-Jasser on terrorism and treason charges has sparked international outrage amid concerns the killing was politically motivated to silence criticism of the Saudi royal family.
At a Glance
- Saudi Arabia executed journalist Turki Al-Jasser after a seven-year imprisonment on terrorism and treason charges that activist groups claim were fabricated
- Al-Jasser was accused of operating a social media account that posted allegations of corruption involving the Saudi royal family
- His trial and conviction were conducted in secrecy with few details about the proceedings made public
- Rights organizations have condemned the execution, drawing parallels to the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi
- Saudi Arabia has carried out 330 executions in 2024 according to human rights groups
Journalist Executed After Secret Trial
The Saudi Press Agency confirmed the execution of journalist Turki Al-Jasser after the kingdom’s highest court upheld his death sentence on charges of terrorism and treason. Al-Jasser, who had been imprisoned since 2018, was accused of operating a social media account that posted allegations of corruption involving members of the Saudi royal family and shared content related to militant groups. Prior to his arrest, Al-Jasser had written about topics including the Arab Spring protests, women’s rights, and government corruption on his personal blog from 2013 to 2015.
Critical details surrounding Al-Jasser’s trial remain shrouded in mystery. The duration, location, and specific evidence presented against him have not been disclosed by Saudi authorities. This lack of transparency has fueled skepticism about the legitimacy of the charges and the fairness of the proceedings. Human rights organizations have expressed concern that the execution represents a troubling pattern of using anti-terrorism laws to target journalists and silence dissent within the kingdom.
Condemnation from Rights Organizations
The Committee to Protect Journalists and other international rights organizations have strongly condemned the execution. They argue that Al-Jasser’s case exemplifies how Saudi Arabia uses its legal system to criminalize journalism and free expression. The execution has drawn immediate comparisons to the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation, though Saudi Arabia has denied his involvement.
Jeed Basyouni, who leads the death penalty team at the human rights organization Reprieve, stated that Al-Jasser was “tried and convicted in total secrecy for the ‘crime’ of journalism.” This execution, according to Basyouni, “once again demonstrates that in Saudi Arabia, the punishment for criticizing or questioning Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is death.” The harsh response to perceived criticism has alarmed defenders of press freedom worldwide.
Rising Executions and Other Cases
Al-Jasser’s execution comes amid a troubling increase in capital punishment in Saudi Arabia. According to activists and human rights groups, Saudi authorities have carried out 330 executions in 2024 alone. The kingdom employs beheading as its primary method of execution, often carrying out the sentences in public. This high number of executions has drawn international criticism from governments and human rights organizations calling for reform in the Saudi judicial system.
Other recent cases highlight Saudi Arabia’s harsh treatment of social media critics. A British Bank of America analyst was reportedly sentenced to 19 years in prison for social media posts critical of the Saudi government made while he was living abroad. Similarly, Saad Almadi, a dual US-Saudi national, was jailed in 2021 for tweets made while in the United States. Though Almadi was released in 2023 after serving a portion of his sentence, he remains unable to leave Saudi Arabia, effectively keeping him under government control.
The execution of Al-Jasser serves as a stark reminder of the dangers journalists face in restrictive environments where press freedom is severely limited. For American allies and partners of Saudi Arabia, the case presents difficult questions about balancing strategic relationships with human rights concerns in a region of vital national security interest.