Saudi Arabia has executed 17 Ethiopians in the first seven months of this year. This figure represents the highest number among non-Saudis executed during this period. Five of these executions occurred on a single Monday.
These executions are primarily for drug-smuggling offenses. Inmates on death row, including a young Ethiopian man named Habtom, are desperately calling the BBC from prison cells. They are pleading for help and expressing frustration with their government's perceived inaction.
This surge in executions fits into a broader pattern of increased use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Amnesty International reported only two Ethiopians executed two years ago, but 35 were put to death in 2025. This trend raises significant concerns about human rights and judicial fairness.
Amnesty International researcher Dana Ahmed suggests the increase could be linked to more people leaving the Tigray region of Ethiopia. A brutal two-year civil war there ended in late 2022. The expanded use of the death penalty for drug-related offenses in Saudi Arabia also contributes to this rise.
The implications of these executions are severe for the individuals and their families. Human rights groups, including Reprieve, Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Amnesty International, allege that due process is rarely followed. Defendants often lack access to lawyers or court papers. Translation services, when provided, are frequently inadequate.
Habtom, like many others, claims he was not given a lawyer or a chance to defend himself. He also states he was forced to sign an Arabic document agreeing to his sentence without understanding its content. Other prisoners shared similar accounts of the legal system.
Nadia Hardman, HRW's senior adviser on refugee and migrant rights, reported learning about "mass sentences, mass trials that lacked any kind of due process." She noted that people are detained and left waiting without knowing when their sentence will be carried out. This lack of transparency extends throughout the judicial process, from sentencing to royal ratification.
The Saudi authorities have not responded to BBC requests for comment on these allegations. However, official statements accompanying executions outline a clear process involving investigation, court cases, appeals, and royal decrees. These statements assert that the sentences protect citizens from the "scourge of drugs."
The situation highlights the precarious position of foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia's justice system. Many, like Habtom, fled war and poverty in their home countries. They sought better lives but instead faced incarceration and the prospect of execution. Habtom, for instance, was found guilty of smuggling hashish, a type of cannabis. He claims he was unaware he was carrying khat, a natural stimulant, and was tempted by the money offered.
The international community and human rights organizations will continue to monitor these developments closely. They will press for greater transparency and adherence to international fair trial standards. The plight of these inmates underscores the urgent need for legal reforms and protections for all individuals facing capital punishment.