Saudi Arabia executes repeat hashish dealer Nasser Harshan
Saudi Arabia put Nasser Harshan to death on 23 March 2017 after convicting him as a repeat offender for dealing hashish. The state press agency announcement brought the kingdom's execution tally for the year to 20.
Saudi Arabia executed two convicted drug traffickers on Thursday 23 March 2017, after convictions in the kingdom.[1][2]The state-run Saudi Press Agency named them as Saudi national Nasser Harshan and Pakistani national Namtallah Khasta Qul.[1][2]
SPA said Harshan was a repeat offender found guilty of dealing hashish, while Qul was found guilty of dealing heroin.[1][2]Most Saudi executions are carried out by beheading with a sword, which the interior ministry calls a deterrent.[2]The two executions brought the number of prisoners killed in the kingdom that year to 20.[1][2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry executed two Ethiopian nationals in the Asir region on 11 November 2026 after convicting them of smuggling amphetamine pills and hashish into the kingdom. The ministry named the men and said their death sentences became final after appeal and confirmation by the Supreme Court.
Saudi Arabia executed five Ethiopian nationals in the Asir region on 5 November 2026 after convicting them of smuggling hashish. The executions brought the kingdom's 2026 total to 205, including 124 drug cases and 32 Ethiopians.
Saudi Arabia executed three Ethiopian nationals in the Asir region on 7 October 2026 after a court convicted them of jointly smuggling hashish into the kingdom. The interior ministry named them and said the death sentence was upheld on appeal and by the Supreme Court.
Saudi Arabia carried out a discretionary death sentence against Firas bin Ahmed bin Saleh Al-Sabah in the Madinah region on 29 August 2026 after convicting him a second time of trafficking hashish by transport.