while the kingdom of saudi arabia is rightfully derided and needs reform, it should not be forgotten that the unreasonably harsh stance on drugs that led to the executions mentioned in this article is one also adopted by that paragon of progress in south east asia, singapore.
Western corporate media aren’t interested in these because Saudi Arabia & Singapore seldom run counter to imperial core interests. They prefer to highlight the plight of Iranian women, because the imperial core wants regime change in Iran.
The legal system of Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia, Islamic law derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (the traditions) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The sources of Sharia also include Islamic scholarly consensus developed after Muhammad's death. Its interpretation by judges in Saudi Arabia is influenced by the medieval texts of the literalist Hanbali school of Fiqh. Uniquely in the Muslim world, Sharia has been adopted by Saudi Arabia in an uncodified form.