Addis Ababa: A growing concern is emerging over the fate of more than 200 Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia who are reportedly facing execution after being convicted in drug related cases. Church leaders and human rights groups are now appealing for mercy and urgent international intervention to prevent the executions.
According to reports cited by the Ethiopian media outlet Addis Standard, many of the detainees are young Ethiopians who had travelled to Saudi Arabia in search of work and safety. Human Rights Watch has confirmed that at least 65 Ethiopian migrants are currently being held at Khamis Mushait prison after being convicted on charges related to drug possession and trafficking. Three executions were reportedly carried out on April 21.
Many of the detainees are believed to be refugees who escaped the devastating conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region between 2020 and 2022. Human Rights Watch said some of them travelled through Djibouti and Yemen using the dangerous eastern migration route before reaching Saudi Arabia, where they were later arrested while working in the Abha region between 2023 and 2024.
Reports indicate that several of the migrants were found carrying khat, a plant commonly used in East Africa for its stimulant effects. While khat is widely consumed in parts of the Horn of Africa, it is banned under Saudi Arabia’s strict anti drug laws.
The situation has prompted an emotional appeal from Bishop Tesfaselassie Medhin of the Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat in northern Ethiopia. In a statement released on May 5, the bishop called on international organizations and humanitarian agencies to intervene and seek protection for the prisoners.
The bishop said he was speaking not only as a religious leader but also as someone who believes deeply in the value of every human life. He stressed that life is sacred and deserves protection. While recognizing the right of countries to uphold their laws, he said justice should also be guided by mercy and compassion.
Bishop Medhin warned that the execution of more than 200 people would bring deep suffering to already struggling families in Ethiopia, many of whom continue to face poverty and displacement after years of conflict. He urged international groups to begin high level talks with Saudi authorities to suspend the executions and consider reducing the sentences.
The bishop also called for alternatives to the death penalty that allow room for repentance and rehabilitation. He said the prisoners are sons, daughters, parents and siblings whose lives still carry dignity and value despite their mistakes.
The appeal comes as the Catholic Church continues to speak strongly against capital punishment. Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV repeated the Church’s teaching that the death penalty is unacceptable because it attacks the dignity of human life. In recent remarks, he said society can uphold justice and protect the common good without taking human lives.