Saudi Arabia executes journalist over social media posts

Saudi Arabia has executed a journalist, nearly seven years after his arrest over corruption allegations he allegedly made against members of the Saudi royal family on social media.

The Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday (14 June) that the journalist Turki Al-Jasser was put to death following the upholding of his death sentence by the kingdom's highest court.

He had been in custody since 2018 after authorities raided his home, confiscated his computer and phones, and accused him of operating a social media account critical of the ruling elite, reports AP.

Al-Jasser was convicted on charges of terrorism and treason, though human rights activists argue the accusations were politically motivated and intended to silence dissent.

According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Saudi authorities claimed Al-Jasser was behind a pseudonymous X (formerly Twitter) account that accused royal family members of corruption. He was also said to have shared controversial posts about militant groups.

CPJ strongly condemned the execution. Carlos Martínez de la Serna, the group's program director, said, "The international community's failure to deliver justice for Jamal Khashoggi did not just betray one journalist," adding that it had "emboldened de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to continue his persecution of the press."

The case has drawn comparisons to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. US intelligence concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the operation, though Saudi officials deny his involvement.

Al-Jasser was known for his writings on the Arab Spring, women's rights, and corruption. He ran a personal blog between 2013 and 2015 and was considered a vocal advocate for reform in the kingdom.

Details about his trial remain unclear, including the length of proceedings and the legal process followed. Rights groups have long criticised the opaque judicial practices in Saudi Arabia, particularly in cases involving political dissent.

Saudi Arabia continues to face international criticism for its high rate of executions and use of capital punishment. In 2024 alone, 330 executions were reported by rights monitors.

The execution of Al-Jasser follows other high-profile cases, including the 2021 sentencing of dual US-Saudi citizen Saad Almadi over tweets posted while in the United States. Almadi was released in 2023 but remains under a travel ban.