Multiple Ethiopian prisoners facing execution in Saudi Arabia have contacted the BBC’s Tigrinya language service from their cells in the country’s detention facilities. In total, journalists spoke with seven of dozens—possibly as many as 200—Ethiopian inmates awaiting capital sentences. The prisoners fled conflict and poverty in their home country, particularly from the Tigray region, seeking employment opportunities but ended up detained on drug-smuggling charges.
Execution rates for Ethiopian nationals have increased dramatically in recent years. Through the first seven months of this year, 17 Ethiopians have been executed for drug-related offences, the highest number among foreign nationals executed during that period. Five executions occurred in a single week. This represents a significant increase compared to earlier periods; Amnesty International documented two Ethiopian executions two years ago and 35 in 2025. Researchers suggest the uptick may correlate with increased migration from Tigray following the conclusion of a regional conflict in late 2022, as well as Saudi Arabia’s expanded application of capital punishment for narcotics offences.
Prisoners and international human rights organizations have raised serious concerns about due process in these cases. Defendants report being denied access to legal counsel, court documents, and adequate translation services. Several inmates stated they were coerced into signing documents in Arabic without understanding the contents, which allegedly contained agreements to capital sentences. According to human rights groups including Reprieve, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, the judicial process lacks transparency from initial sentencing through Supreme Court review and royal ratification. While appeal procedures theoretically exist, prisoners without legal representation cannot formally submit appeals, leading to automatic sentence confirmation.
Saudi authorities have not responded to allegations regarding fairness of legal proceedings, though official statements accompanying each execution describe a structured process involving investigation, trial, appeal, and royal decree. Prison conditions have also drawn criticism, with detainees describing severe overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and restricted communication with guards. Ethiopian officials have engaged in diplomatic discussions with Saudi counterparts, including a May meeting between foreign ministers and a June prison visit by Ethiopia’s ambassador, though these interventions have not halted executions. International bodies, including the African Union’s human rights commission, have called for greater intervention to protect Ethiopian nationals facing capital punishment.
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