A growing number of Ethiopian migrants sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia are appealing for international intervention as executions linked to drug offences continue to rise, drawing renewed scrutiny from human rights organizations over the kingdom’s judicial process.
Among them is Amanuel, a pseudonym used to protect the identity of an Ethiopian prisoner who says he lives each day expecting to be executed without warning. Speaking from Khamis Mushait prison in southwestern Saudi Arabia, he described life on death row as a constant psychological battle, saying every knock on his cell door could signal his final moments.
His account comes as rights groups warn that dozens of Ethiopian migrants remain on death row for drug-related convictions, many claiming they received little or no legal representation and were unable to fully understand the court proceedings against them.
Executions Continue to Increase
Human rights organizations estimate that around 60 Ethiopians have been sentenced to death in a single cell block at Khamis Mushait prison, with additional prisoners being held elsewhere in the facility.
According to records compiled by rights monitors, Saudi Arabia carried out 356 executions last year, the highest annual total in recent history. Of those, 240 involved drug-related offences, with foreign nationals accounting for the majority of those executed.
The trend has continued this year, with at least 71 people executed for non-violent drug offences. Ethiopians represent the largest group of foreign nationals among those affected.
Maya Foa, chief executive of the human rights organization Reprieve, said the cases reflect a wider pattern involving vulnerable migrants seeking employment in Saudi Arabia.
She argued that many migrants are effectively punished for attempting to build a better future after crossing the border in search of work.
Concerns Over Fair Trial Rights
Legal experts continue to raise concerns about the fairness of capital trials involving foreign migrants in Saudi Arabia.
Taha al-Hajji, legal director of the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, said many defendants face serious obstacles throughout the legal process, including the absence of qualified lawyers and interpreters.
He alleged that some migrants are convicted after signing documents they cannot read or after confessions obtained under coercion, leaving them unable to properly defend themselves before receiving death sentences.
Several relatives of Ethiopian prisoners also said they only learned about the convictions weeks after sentencing through community members rather than official government channels.
Family members have appealed to Saudi authorities to reconsider the sentences and show mercy toward those awaiting execution.
A Search for Work Ends on Death Row
According to Amanuel, he fled Ethiopia’s Tigray region during the civil conflict and spent two years stranded in Yemen before eventually entering Saudi Arabia in search of employment.
After working briefly as a shepherd, he says his employer offered him another job transporting goods.
Believing he was carrying ordinary cargo, Amanuel accepted the work.
He says he was later arrested after police discovered hashish inside the vehicle he was driving.
Following his arrest, Amanuel alleges he was beaten, forced to sign documents written in a language he did not understand, and denied access to both legal counsel and Ethiopian diplomatic officials.
He says only one of his three court appearances included an interpreter, and that session was limited to the judge announcing his death sentence.
According to Amanuel, he was informed that no appeal would be available.
Prison Conditions and Religious Restrictions
Beyond the legal concerns, Amanuel described difficult prison conditions and restrictions on practicing his Christian faith.
He said he stopped wearing a cross after allegedly being assaulted by prison personnel because of his religion and claims he can no longer worship freely.
He also described the emotional toll inside the prison, saying several inmates have attempted suicide after losing hope while awaiting execution.
Two weeks ago, he said five prisoners from his cell block were taken away and later executed.
Saudi authorities later confirmed the executions, stating that the individuals had been convicted of jointly smuggling hashish into the kingdom and that the sentences had been upheld through the country’s judicial process.
The government said Saudi Arabia remains committed to combating drug trafficking by imposing the toughest penalties permitted under its laws.
Dangerous Migration Route Leaves Many Vulnerable
Migration experts say Amanuel’s experience reflects the risks faced by thousands of Ethiopians who travel to Saudi Arabia every year through one of the world’s most dangerous migration corridors.
Many leave the Horn of Africa because of poverty, conflict and limited economic opportunities, often traveling through Djibouti and Yemen before crossing into Saudi Arabia.
Researchers estimate that more than 100,000 Ethiopians make the journey annually, although the actual number is believed to be much higher.
Along the route, migrants frequently face kidnapping, extortion and exploitation by smuggling networks.
Experts say many migrants accumulate significant debts during the journey and are sometimes pressured or deceived into transporting illegal drugs without fully understanding Saudi Arabia’s strict drug laws.
Calls for Diplomatic Intervention
Human rights advocates are urging both Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia to strengthen legal protections for migrant workers and ensure defendants receive fair trials, proper interpretation services and access to legal representation.
Amanuel says Ethiopian officials recently visited the prison and assured him that his case would be reviewed, offering a small measure of hope.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it maintains regular engagement with Saudi authorities and has secured royal amnesties for thousands of Ethiopian nationals in recent years, though it has not confirmed whether any death row inmates were included.
For Amanuel, however, uncertainty remains constant.
He says he has never told his parents that he is awaiting execution because he fears the news would devastate them.
Instead, he continues to wait, hoping that diplomatic efforts or international attention may arrive before the next unexpected knock on his prison cell door.
