Death row inmates desperate to escape execution in Saudi Arabia call the BBC

What the report says

BBC Africa reports that dozens of Ethiopian nationals are on death row in Saudi Arabia, with some prisoners reaching the BBC Tigrinya service by prison phone to describe their situation. The inmates, held in Khamis Mushait and other facilities, said they feared execution after convictions for drug-smuggling-related offences. Several told the BBC they had left Ethiopia because of war and poverty, particularly from the Tigray region, and became trapped in alleged smuggling cases after arriving in Saudi Arabia.

Among those interviewed was a prisoner identified as Habtom, whose name was changed for safety. He said he had been detained for more than three years, claimed he was not given proper legal access, and described signing papers he did not understand. Rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Reprieve are cited by the BBC as saying such cases often lack due process, including access to lawyers and clear information about appeals. Saudi authorities did not comment on the BBC’s specific allegations, but the official position, as described in the report, is that executions follow an investigation, court process, appeal and royal approval.

The BBC says the number of Ethiopian executions has risen sharply, with 17 carried out in the first seven months of this year and more reported in April, June and on a Monday mentioned in the article. Ethiopian and regional officials have raised concerns, and Ethiopia’s foreign ministry said it was in contact with Saudi authorities and pursuing remedies for citizens in difficult circumstances. The story highlights both the human toll for detainees and the wider diplomatic pressure surrounding their cases.