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Saudi Arabia Carries Out Executions of Five Ethiopian Drug Smugglers
The Saudi Interior Ministry announced that five Ethiopian nationals were executed in the Asir region after being convicted of hashish smuggling. The men – identified as Adis Alem Telqay Tesma, Qetachu Gabra Burhan Mesqan, Murshid Merhana Qasu Qarmadan, Teke Lay Neqsh Abra Lagan and Gabra Abra Heftay Leqidan – were arrested by security forces, tried by a specialized narcotics court, appealed through higher courts and received a final royal order before the executions were carried out.
Human‑rights groups say dozens, possibly up to 200, Ethiopian migrants remain on death row in the Khamis Mushait prison, awaiting execution. In the first seven months of the year, 17 Ethiopians have been executed in Saudi Arabia, with five deaths occurring on a single Monday. Prisoners have contacted the BBC from inside their cells to describe harsh conditions, lack of legal representation and language barriers.
Organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Reprieve criticize the Saudi judicial process for failing to provide basic due‑process guarantees. Bishops in the United Kingdom have petitioned former Labour leader Ed Miliband to intervene on behalf of Christian detainees, but Saudi authorities have not responded to the appeals.
Entities
Amnesty International · Asir region · Ethiopia · Human Rights Watch · Saudi Arabia · Saudi Interior Ministry
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ethiopian prisoners have called the BBC from their cells to describe their situation. www.diebewertung.de · www.bbc.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Seventeen Ethiopian nationals were executed in Saudi Arabia in the first seven months of the year, with five executed on a single Monday. www.diebewertung.de · www.bbc.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The executions followed convictions by a specialized narcotics court, appeals court, supreme court and a final royal order. www.memesita.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Bishops in the United Kingdom have petitioned Ed Miliband to intervene on behalf of Christian detainees in Saudi Arabia. www.archynetys.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The executed Ethiopians were named Adis Alem Telqay Tesma, Qetachu Gabra Burhan Mesqan, Murshid Merhana Qasu Qarmadan, Teke Lay Neqsh Abra Lagan and Gabra Abra Heftay Leqidan. www.memesita.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Dozens, possibly up to 200, Ethiopian prisoners are on death row in Khamis Mushait prison awaiting execution. www.diebewertung.de · www.bbc.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Saudi Interior Ministry announced the execution of five Ethiopian nationals for hashish smuggling in the Asir region. www.memesita.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Human‑rights groups (Reprieve, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International) say due‑process guarantees are lacking for the Ethiopian death‑row prisoners. www.diebewertung.de · www.bbc.co.uk