Saudi Arabia has executed 81 people in just one day, making it the largest mass execution carried out in the kingdom in decades.

The interior ministry confirmed that the horrifying figure included seven Yemenis and one Syrian national who were killed on charges including "allegiance to foreign terrorist organisations” and holding “deviant beliefs”.

The number surpassed the 67 executions previously recorded in the Kingdom last year and the 27 reported in 2020, reports Al Jazeera.

The method of execution has yet to be made public.

Saudi Press Agency said on Saturday (March 12): “These individuals … were convicted of various crimes including murdering innocent men, women and children.

“Crimes committed by these individuals also include pledging allegiance to foreign terrorist organisations, such as ISIS [ISIL], al-Qaeda and the Houthis,” it added.

It was reported that some people had headed to conflict zones to join “terrorist organisations."

“The accused were provided with the right to an attorney and were guaranteed their full rights under Saudi law during the judicial process,” the statement read.

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“The kingdom will continue to take a strict and unwavering stance against terrorism and extremist ideologies that threaten the stability of the entire world."

In the gruelling 24 hours, the men included featured a total of 37 Saudi nationals who were found guilty in a sole case for trying to assassinate security officers, as well as targeting police stations and convoys.

In January 2016, Saudi Arabia's last execution took place which saw 47 people killed, including an opposition Shia leader who had rallied demonstrations in the country.

Years later in 2019, 37 Saudi citizens, many of them minority Shia, were brutally beheaded in a mass execution for alleged crimes linked to terrorism.

The kingdom's human rights records have been under growing from concerned rights groups and Western allies since Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated in 2018.

Saudi Arabia has refuted claims of human rights abuses and says it acts out of protection for its national security according to its laws.

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