SAUDI ARABIA has executed 16 more people since the mass execution of 81 men on March 12, executing on average more than one person a day, campaigners in Britain revealed today.

Of the 16 executions, eight took place this week, just days before F1 Grand Prix practice sessions begin in the country.

If the kingdom continues to carry out executions at its current rate, there would be nearly 500 executions this year, according to calculations by legal action group Reprieve.

Saudi Arabia has executed 108 people in 2022 so far, which is more people than in 2020 and 2021 combined. 

Nearly three-quarters of the 81 men killed in the mass execution were accused of non-lethal offences  and more than half were killed for taking part in pro-democracy protests.

Reprieve director Maya Foa said: “Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali says Saudi Arabia is headed in ‘the right direction’ when the kingdom is on track to execute almost 500 people this year.

“There have been executions almost every day in the lead-up to the race — they have clearly heard the message from the sport’s organisers that there will be no consequences.

“The 10-year deal F1 has just signed with Saudi Arabia is effectively a contract to sportswash the bloodstains from Mohammed bin Salman’s regime.”

Lord Hain, co-chairman of the Motorsport APPG and vice-chairman of the Formula One APPG, said: “If the Jeddah race is to go ahead, it must be a venue to strongly condemn Mohammed bin Salman’s regime, and all participants — drivers, officials, corporate sponsors — must loudly call for the kingdom to place a moratorium on the death penalty, in line with Formula One’s core values.”

The figures come ahead of the seven-year anniversary Saturday since the beginning of the Saudi-led coalition’s entry into the war in Yemen, which is facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

As of January 2022, at least 8,970 civilians have been killed and 10,226 injured in air strikes on civilian targets.

Anti-arms campaigners have warned that the coalition’s bombing campaign would not have been possible without supplies from countries such as Britain and the United States.

The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has calculated that the total value of British arms sales to Saudi Arabia is the beginning of the war is around £23 billion.

Sam Perlo-Freeman of CAAT said: “While the UK government and its allies rightly condemn the horrific atrocities being visited on Ukraine by Russia, they are not merely standing by, but actively enabling the same atrocities committed by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, through their continuing arms supplies.

“These arms sales must stop now, and the international community, after seven years of inaction, needs to pursue serious efforts to promote a diplomatic solution to the war, end the blockade of Yemen, pursue accountability for war crimes and human rights abuses, and act urgently to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid to Yemen to allow its people to live.”