Saudi Arabia executed an Iranian and three Syrians the same day after handing down death penalties for drug trafficking.[1] The convicts were decapitated by sword in northern and eastern Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 2 September 2014 for trying to import hashish into the kingdom.[1]

The Iranian was identified as Raza Abbas Fadhil Aderisawi, beheaded in the east of the country.[1] The three Syrians, named as Hamoud Fayez Hassoun, Hassan Taha Musalamani and Youssef Abdullah al-Halqi, were executed in the northern al-Jawf region.[1] The day’s four executions brought the year’s tally to 45, with 30 carried out in the preceding four weeks alone.[1][2]

Human Rights Watch opposes capital punishment in all cases and called executions for drug smuggling particularly egregious where they result in no loss of life.[1][2] Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty to drug trafficking alongside murder, rape and armed robbery.[2]