Saudi Arabia doubled down in the last few months, using inflammatory rhetoric to condemn Israel for alleged “crimes of genocide against defenseless civilians” and violations of “international law.” On the surface, it is an ethical high ground—a cry for accountability, justice, and protection of civilians. Strip away the layers, and the hypocrisy is striking. The same kingdom that judges others is guilty of chronic human rights violations so egregious that it makes Saudi Arabia ineligible as a moral actor on the international stage.
This hypocrisy takes on an even more sinister tone in the context of Saudi Arabia’s recent triumph as host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. A nation that carries out record numbers of executions, crushes dissent by torture, and systematically discriminates against religious minorities cannot credibly present itself as a defender of justice—or as a credible host for the world’s most elite sporting event.
Saudi Arabia’s Mounting Human Rights Crisis
Let’s examine the facts. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have reported a dramatic spike in executions in Saudi Arabia.
- At least 241 individuals have been executed as of August 2025, putting the nation on track to exceed its 2024 record of 345 executions—an average of one execution every 25 hours.
- The majority of these murders—nearly 70% in 2025 alone—were for non-violent, drug-related offenses.
- Shocking statistics also reveal that 75% of foreign nationals who were put to death for drug-related offenses in 2024 lacked proper legal counsel, interpreters, or consular assistance.
These are not isolated incidents. This is state policy—purposeful, systematic, and brutal.
Saudi Arabia’s justice system is characterized by the application of vaguely worded laws and discretionary sentences, making it possible for the regime to impose the death penalty for offenses that would not in other parts of the world justify such a severe action. Torture—beatings, electric shocks, solitary confinement—is endemic, and coerced confessions are routinely the sole evidence presented to hand down convictions.
Targeting Religious Minorities
The hypocrisy bites even deeper when we look at the way Saudi Arabia deals with its Shia minority. While it condemns Israel for targeting civilians, Riyadh itself has conducted bloody reprisals against unarmed Shia protesters.
Take the case of Jalal Labbad, a young Shia Muslim executed in 2025 for his involvement in peaceful protests more than a decade earlier. Arrested as a teenager, tortured, and denied a fair trial, Labbad’s story is tragically common. Amnesty International notes that during the mass execution of 81 men in March 2022, nearly half—41 of them—were Shia Muslims convicted on terrorism charges that often amounted to nothing more than peaceful dissent.
USCIRF also documented the testimonies of Youssef al-Manasif and Abdullah al-Derazi, minors at the time of their alleged offense, to be now executed. These examples make evident the Saudi regime’s readiness to kill children, silence minority voices, and eliminate opposition—while posing as a defender of Palestinian rights.
A Cynical Political Maneuver
Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of Israel is less about solidarity with the Palestinians and more about distraction. It is a calculated move aimed at diverting attention from its own domestic human rights abuses worldwide. The regime knows that international occurrences, such as sporting events, can be utilized to whitewash its reputation—something that many activists have begun calling “sportswashing.”.
The 2034 FIFA World Cup is at the center of this agenda. Bidding to host the tournament, Saudi Arabia’s hope is to project itself as modern, tolerant, and open. Beneath the glistening stadiums and advertising, however, the reality is that a nation that murders dissidents, suppresses free speech, and silences minorities has no business being in the business of being afforded a platform that symbolizes unity and celebration throughout the world.
Why FIFA Should Think Again
We learn from history the dangers of inviting large sporting events hosted by authoritarian governments. The 1936 Berlin Olympics were used to legitimize Hitler’s dictatorship. The latest 2022 World Cup held in Qatar was greeted with global outrage for abuses of labor rights and migrant fatalities. Saudi Arabia will likely replicate—and even surpass—those failings on a grander scale.
Human Rights Abuses – FIFA’s own regulations claim to uphold human rights. But playing the World Cup in Saudi Arabia validates its executions, torture, and systemic discrimination.
Crushing Free Speech – Journalists, activists, and even athletes are put behind bars or threatened with something worse if they are critical of the regime. A World Cup there would gag free voices.
Religious Persecution – Shia Muslims remain disproportionately killed and systematically persecuted. This is the total opposite of FIFA values of inclusiveness.
Gender Inequality – Although there have been reforms, Saudi women remain subject to restrictions on basic freedoms, including movement and dress. How can female fans, players, and journalists feel safe?
Sportswashing Agenda – Allowing Saudi Arabia to host essentially rewards the regime for hijacking football as a propaganda medium.
What the Global Community Can Do
In order to combat sportswashing and hold Saudi Arabia accountable, the global community must take collective action:
- Pressure FIFA: Human rights groups, governments, and fans must pressure FIFA to take away Saudi Arabia’s hosting rights.
- Boycott Threats: National squads and football associations should threaten to boycott the 2034 tournament if it remains in Saudi hands.
- Corporate Responsibility: Sponsors and advertisers must be subjected to public pressure not to link their brands to an event sullied by human rights abuses.
- Amplify Victims’ Voices: Activists should ensure victims’ voices like Jalal Labbad, Youssef al-Manasif, and Abdullah al-Derazi are heard loudly globally.
No World Cup for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia wants the world to believe that it’s all about justice when it condemns Israel. But its own record—mass executions, treatment of minorities as less than citizens, women treated as second-class citizens, torture of dissenters—speaks louder. This is not a country deserving to host the world’s greatest sporting spectacle.
The 2034 FIFA World Cup must not be used as a propaganda stage for an autocratic government. To give Saudi Arabia this stage would be to betray the values of sport, human rights, and international solidarity.