Saudi Arabia has executed journalist Turki Al-Jasser on terrorism and treason charges after seven years in custody, raising serious questions about the kingdom’s commitment to press freedom while international organizations condemn the action as politically motivated.
At a Glance
- Saudi Arabia executed journalist Turki Al-Jasser after convicting him on terrorism and treason charges following his 2018 arrest
- Al-Jasser allegedly operated social media accounts criticizing the Saudi royal family, with activist groups claiming the charges were fabricated to silence dissent
- Rights organizations have condemned the execution, which was carried out after a secretive trial with few public details
- The case draws parallels to the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi
- Saudi Arabia has conducted 330 executions in 2024 according to human rights groups
Saudi Arabia Confirms Execution of Journalist
The Saudi Press Agency has confirmed the execution of journalist Turki Al-Jasser after the kingdom’s highest court upheld his death sentence on charges of terrorism and treason. Al-Jasser, arrested in 2018, was accused of operating social media accounts that published allegations of corruption involving the Saudi royal family and shared content related to militant groups. The execution marks another controversial chapter in Saudi Arabia’s approach to handling perceived dissidents and critics of the ruling establishment.
#SaudiArabia🇸🇦: We are outraged by Saudi Arabia’s execution of prominent journalist Turki al-Jasser, who was detained for seven years because the regime believed he reported on allegations of corruption within the Saudi royal family. https://t.co/iqMKJI8UF0
— CPJ MENA (@CPJMENA) June 14, 2025
Details surrounding Al-Jasser’s trial remain shrouded in secrecy, with little information available about its duration, location, or the specific evidence presented against him. This lack of transparency has fueled criticism from international observers who question whether the journalist received a fair trial. Before his arrest, Al-Jasser had written about topics including the Arab Spring, women’s rights, and corruption in the region, maintaining a personal blog from 2013 to 2015.
International Condemnation and Rights Concerns
The Committee to Protect Journalists and other human rights organizations have strongly condemned the execution, questioning the legitimacy of the charges against Al-Jasser. Rights groups assert that the charges appear to be fabricated with the intent to silence critical voices within the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has faced increasing scrutiny over its high number of executions and methods of capital punishment, with activists reporting that executions in the country have risen to 330 in 2024 alone.
The execution has drawn inevitable comparisons to the high-profile killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018. U.S. intelligence linked that murder to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, although Saudi Arabia has consistently denied his involvement. Critics point to both cases as evidence of the kingdom’s harsh treatment of journalists and willingness to use extreme measures against those who question authority.
Saudi Arabia executes journalist Turki al-Jasser on treason, terrorism charges https://t.co/vCt10cklng via @CPJMENA
— Tam Hussein (@tamhussein) June 14, 2025
Pattern of Harsh Punishments for Dissent
Al-Jasser’s execution fits into what human rights advocates describe as a broader pattern of severe punishment for dissent in Saudi Arabia. Recent cases include a British Bank of America analyst and a dual Saudi-American national, both sentenced over social media posts critical of the Saudi government. Saad Almadi, the dual US-Saudi national, was jailed in 2021 for tweets made while in the United States but was released in 2023, though he remains unable to leave Saudi Arabia.
“The execution once again demonstrates that in Saudi Arabia, the punishment for criticizing or questioning Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is death,” said Jeed Basyouni, who noted that Al-Jasser was tried “in total secrecy for the ‘crime’ of journalism.”
These cases highlight the tension between Saudi Arabia’s efforts to project a reformist image internationally while maintaining strict control over domestic criticism. As the kingdom continues its push for economic development and global integration under its Vision 2030 plan, its human rights record remains a significant point of contention with Western allies and international organizations concerned about press freedom and civil liberties.
