The European Union expresses its concern over the serious increase in executions in Saudi Arabia over the last four months this year, including executions for drug related offences.

The European Union strongly opposes it at all times and in all circumstances. The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment, which is incompatible with the inalienable right to life, fails to act as a deterrent to crime, represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity, and makes the miscarriages of justice irreversible.

The EU will continue to work for the abolition of the death penalty in the few remaining countries that still apply it.