Saudi authorities executed five Ethiopian migrants for non-lethal drug offences, Human Rights Watch (HRW) revealed, warning that at least 79 more Ethiopian nationals face imminent execution under similar circumstances.
According to HRW, the five men were executed after being convicted of smuggling hashish. Rights advocates report that the men were subjected to brief, rushed trials, some lasting as little as three minutes, held in Arabic without adequate legal representation or proper translation services.
All five executed individuals hailed from Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, having fled economic hardship and instability following the 2020–2022 conflict. HRW noted that many migrants cross into Saudi Arabia through dangerous smuggling routes, often unaware of the strict drug laws or coerced into carrying illicit substances.
The rights watchdog called on Saudi authorities to halt all pending executions for non-lethal offences, urging international pressure on Riyadh to review its judicial processes in line with international human rights standards.
–ChannelAfrica/HRW–
