By John Q. Hosedrinker 
As part of an ongoing initiative, the Shopping Trends team, separate from CTV News journalists, reviews various products and services. The team may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliated links, ensuring transparency in their recommendations. This independence allows for unbiased product assessments, providing consumers with valuable insights to inform their purchasing decisions. More information about their process and relationship with CTV News can be found on their dedicated “About Us” page.
Read the original article here
Saudi Arabia sets executions record in 2025, putting 356 people to death. It’s a staggering figure, isn’t it? More than one execution a day, on average, throughout the entire year. To put that in perspective, the United States, despite having its own system of capital punishment, recorded a significantly lower number, with 47 executions in the same year. The comparison is pretty stark.
This raises so many questions, of course. We have to wonder about the context, what the crimes were that led to these executions, and how the legal system functions in Saudi Arabia. It’s hard not to be struck by the sheer scale, especially when you consider that a figure of 356 is a new record for the kingdom. It makes you pause and consider the implications for human rights and the overall state of the justice system.
The sheer volume is amplified when you think about the comments that sometimes pop up about freedom in Saudi Arabia. Some people have even mentioned that it is more free than the Western world, particularly given how some stand-up comedians perform there. When you see a statistic like this, it makes you question that perspective quite a bit. It’s a bit jarring to reconcile those kinds of assertions with the reality of so many executions.
It is interesting that there seems to be a lot of commentary that it is not much more than an average of one per day, as though that is somehow a casual number. And even a comment about how it’s almost the right amount of executions, implying that perhaps the number could have been a little higher, at one a day, which is a chilling thought. It underlines the sheer scale of the situation, and the way it becomes a topic of discussion.
Comparing it to other countries like the US and India, really emphasizes the difference. The US may not have a perfect human rights record, but the difference in execution rates is remarkable. We also see comments about how Saudi Arabia seems to be similar to Florida, which is probably a reference to its conservative culture.
There’s some dark humor mixed in with the shock, too. Comments about fast food chains, and the seemingly incongruous image of a society where executions are so frequent, but international franchises are available. It speaks to the complexity of the country, and the different perceptions people have about it. Some comments even reference the fact that the Kingdom is allied with countries like the US and France, which are often thought of as bastions of democracy.
And then there’s the question of why. Why such a high number of executions? What were the crimes, and what kind of justice system is at play? It’s important to understand the context, but the sheer number of deaths is hard to ignore, and the implications are huge. As some have stated, that’s a lot of people that are gone.
And, of course, there’s the political angle. References to former US presidents, and their views on Saudi Arabia, open up a whole other discussion about the relationship between countries and the potential role of politics in these discussions. It is important to know that these numbers, and events, can have an international context.
Even in the face of what’s described, there is the discussion of progress, such as women being able to drive. It’s very difficult to reconcile these advances with the scale of the executions, and it’s important to understand this juxtaposition. The reality is not simple, and there is a lot to think about.
The fact that this number of executions set a record, and happened in 2025, really underscores the significance of the event. It’s a moment of reflection and a call for a deeper consideration of the justice system, human rights, and the international relationships surrounding Saudi Arabia.