RIYADH: Eighty-one people were executed in Saudi Arabia last Saturday alone. These are official figures provided by the Saudi government itself. The Saudi government said in a statement that those who were executed were criminals linked to Islamic State.

The executions targeted members of Islamic State, Al Qaeda and the Houthi militant group. Authorities said that those who planned the attacks in various parts of the country and smuggled arms into Saudi Arabia have been executed. Last Saturday alone, the number of executions in Saudi Arabia was estimated to be higher than the total number of executions in 2021.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has released Raif Badawi, a blogger and human rights activist who has been jailed in Saudi Arabia for the past 10 years. Badawi, who has become a symbol of freedom of expression and human rights around the world, has been released but is barred from leaving the country for the next 10 years.

In 2014, a Saudi court sentenced Badawi to 10 years in prison. In addition, the court ordered 50 lashes on him per week. His first lash in Jeddah Square caught the world's attention and the United Nations responded that it was a cruel and inhuman act.

Officials said that 38 year old Badawi, will not be able to leave the country for the next 10 years and this order will only be exempted if gets a pardon by the Saudi government. Badawi's wife and children are currently in Canada. His wife told the media that Badawi had contacted them after his release from prison.