Despite Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2022 claim to have abolished the death penalty except for murder, Saudi Arabia executed a record-high 330 people in 2023, a significant increase from previous years. This surge, comprised of over 150 individuals convicted of non-lethal crimes like drug smuggling and vaguely defined terrorism charges, contradicts international law. The executions included numerous foreign nationals, highlighting concerns about due process and fair trials within the Saudi legal system. This drastic increase in executions clashes sharply with the kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan to modernize its image and attract international tourism.
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A new documentary has revealed that over 21,000 workers from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal have died since 2017 while working on Saudi Arabia’s multi-trillion dollar Saudi Vision 2030 programme, which includes the NEOM project and the Line. The programme has also seen allegations of wage theft, illegal working hours, human rights abuses, and the forced removal of over 20,000 indigenous people. The documentary follows a report by the Wall Street Journal alleging corruption, racism, Islamophobia, and misogyny among the project’s senior executives. Despite some architecture companies leaving NEOM due to human rights concerns, others including BIG, Zaha Hadid Architects, and OMA remain involved. Over 100,000 people have also reportedly “disappeared” during the construction of NEOM.
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Over 21,000 migrant workers have died in eight years working on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 project, according to an ITV documentary. Some workers have reported feeling like “trapped slaves,” citing human rights abuses such as alleged unpaid wages and illegal work hours. Human rights groups have raised concerns about exploitation of migrant workers and potential displacement of locals. The documentary highlighted the effects of long work hours, insufficient food, lack of rest, and stressful conditions on the workers’ health. ITV’s figures indicate that many of the deceased were from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
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John Q. Hosedrinker