Tim Dillon was scheduled to perform but said he was fired after he joked on his podcast about Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record.

“I am doing this because they are paying me a large sum of money,” Dillon said. “They are paying me enough money to look the other way.”

Saudi authorities had executed at least 241 people in 2025 as of August 5, with 22 executions in the last week alone, according to Reprieve. Reprieve reported that the number of executions in 2025 would exceed all prior records if executions continue at the same rate.

Rampant due process violations and systemic abuses against defendants in Saudi Arabia’s courts and criminal justice system make it highly unlikely that any of those executed in 2025 received a fair trial.

Saudi authorities, FIFA, and other employers should ensure that all migrant worker deaths, regardless of perceived cause, time, and place are properly investigated and families of deceased workers are treated with dignity, and receive fair and timely compensation.

Saudi authorities have failed to adequately protect workers from preventable deaths, investigate workplace safety incidents, and ensure timely and adequate compensation for families, including through mandatory life insurance policies and survivors’ benefits.

“The UAE government rejects the existence of political opposition or any opinion that contradicts its policies, so it seeks to silence all voices,” said one individual.

The move represents an escalation of the UAE's transnational repression, targeting not only dissidents but also their family members.

HRW searched for the individuals & companies on global terror and financial sanctions lists, inclg the UN Global Sanctions list, the European Union Sanctions list & the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets in the UK.

None of them are included in these lists.

HRW found that all 8 companies are solely registered in the UK & are owned or previously owned by exiled Emirati dissidents/their relatives

The authorities did not inform them prior to the designation, nor was there any opportunity to respond or contest the allegations.

Only 2 of the 11 have been convicted or accused of a terrorist offense though both under questionable circumstances: One was convicted in absentia as part of the grossly unfair UAE94 mass trial of dissidents in 2013. The other was accused in a separate case related the UAE94 case

None of the detainees were present, and only one of the defendants’ lawyers was able to attend the session.

Little is known about the conditions for the 53 defendants because most are denied visits and calls from family member