64 people are at risk of execution in Saudi Arabia, according to a human rights organization

 At least 64 people are currently facing execution in Saudi Arabia, a human rights organization reported Friday, including nine who were minors when they were charged.

  European Saudi Organization for Human Rights said that 61 people were executed in the first half of this year, while a toll prepared by Agence France-Presse and based on official media reports states that 74 people have been executed since the beginning of 2023.

The organization considered that "the upward trajectory of violations, continuous breach of promises, and complete disregard for international obligations and laws, confirms that the danger to the lives of detainees sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia is increasing."

"While the lack of transparency leads to ignorance of the numbers of those currently sentenced, the information of the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights confirms that at least 64 detainees are facing death sentences. Among those currently threatened are 9 minors," she said.

It also accused Saudi Arabia of withholding the bodies of some of those executed, explaining, "With the first half of 2023, the number of detained bodies rose to at least 140."

More than 1,000 death sentences have been carried out since Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz came to power in 2015, according to a report published earlier this year by the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights and the UK-based Reprieve Group.

However, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler, has said on numerous occasions that the kingdom is downplaying executions.

In an interview with The Atlantic published by state media in March 2022, Prince Mohammed said the kingdom had "got rid of" the death penalty except in cases of murder or when "someone threatens the lives of many people."