Over 200 Ethiopians Face Mass Execution in Saudi Arabia as Tigray Youth Bureau Issues Urgent Plea
Mekelle- In a harrowing appeal to the international community and federal authorities, the Tigray Youth Affairs Bureau has revealed that over 200 young Ethiopians are currently awaiting execution in a Saudi Arabian prison. The Bureau’s statement shines a light on a burgeoning humanitarian crisis within the Saudi penal system, where migrants from the Tigray, Afar, and Oromo regions are reportedly facing mass death sentences without access to legal representation or fair trials.
In a formal letter dispatched to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau detailed the grim reality for these citizens held at the “Khamis Mushait” detention center in the “Khamuntaga Asiri” area. These individuals, many of whom traveled to Saudi Arabia in search of better economic opportunities, are trapped in a legal vacuum. Lacking valid residency permits, they are denied the right to defend themselves against severe charges, leading to what the Bureau describes as “shocking and inhumane” mass death sentences that violate fundamental human rights and international legal standards.
The conditions within these detention centers are described as deplorable. Human rights advocates have repeatedly flagged the physical and psychological abuse of detainees, but the situation has now escalated to an existential threat. Families back in Ethiopia are living in a state of constant agony, watching the clock as their children wait for an execution date to be set.
The Bureau emphasized that these young people are being subjected to prolonged detention without trial and are ultimately sentenced in a judicial process that offers no transparency or chance for appeal.
Describing the mass death sentences as an affront not only to Ethiopians but to humanity at large, the Bureau warned that such actions could severely damage the long-standing diplomatic ties between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia. The statement characterized the situation as a national crisis that touches the dignity of all Ethiopians and places an immense psychological burden on the population.
The Tigray Youth Affairs Bureau is now urgently calling on the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to leverage all diplomatic channels. They are demanding immediate intervention with the Saudi Embassy to halt the executions and secure a diplomatic resolution that preserves the lives of these citizens.