Saudi Arabia executes four for drug trafficking

Four people - including one woman - were executed in Saudi Arabia on Monday for drug trafficking, according to Sauid news.

Among those put to death in the holy city of Mecca were two Pakistani men, a Yemeni man and a Nigerian woman, the ministry said in statements carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

It brings the total number of people executed in the kingdom this year to 53, according to a count based on official data released by SPA.

Saudi Arabia has one of the world's highest execution rates - with a huge number of capital offences for crimes, including terrorism, murder, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking.

Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the fairness of trials in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia executed 120 people last year, despite Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shaping himself as a reformer.