Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry says 37 Saudi citizens were beheaded on Tuesday, all accused of terrorism related crimes.
Saudi Arabian official statement stated: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long ago adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorists who spill the blood of the innocent, threaten the national security of the kingdom and distort our great faith. The convicted criminals who were executed today had their day in court and were found guilty of very serious crimes." Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has overseen an intensified crackdown on dissent since he first emerged on the kingdom's political scene in 2015. In recent years, he has also ordered the rounding up of high-profile businessmen and princes, along with women's rights defenders who were allegedly tortured and whom authorities accuse of "suspicious contact" with foreign entities. The government has repeatedly denied the torture claims.