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Middle East Eye
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
At least 50 African people at risk of imminent execution in Saudi Arabia
Dozens of people from the Horn of Africa on death row in Saudi Arabia have been told that their executions could take place 'any day', inmates and their relatives told Middle East Eye. The men are all from Ethiopia and Somalia and have been convicted of drug trafficking, which carries a death sentence in Saudi Arabia. Held at the Najiran prison near the border with Yemen, inmates say they were notified several weeks ago that their sentences, typically beheadings, would be carried out soon. 'They have told us to say our goodbyes,' one of the convicted men, who preferred not to be named, told MEE. 'We were told that executions would begin shortly after Eid al-Adha, and now they have started.' New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters A list of names of the convicted obtained by MEE includes 43 Ethiopians, and 13 Somalis. According to inmates, at least six were put to death over the past month. Rise in executions Amnesty International has documented at least 52 executions for drug-related offenses in the kingdom from January to April. Keen to soften the country's conservative image as part of its Vision 2030 economic reform programme and ahead of hosting of the 2034 Fifa World Cup, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has enacted a whirlwind of reforms liberalising some elements of Saudi society. He has also repeatedly pledged to amend the country's harsh justice system, which lists adultery, apostasy and 'sorcery' as capital offences. Saudi Arabia is among the world's leading executioners. 'All of the Ethiopians and Somali executions we documented this year were linked to hashish possession or smuggling' - Duaa Dhainy, European Saudi Organization for Human Rights However, an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment for drug-related offences enacted in 2021 has been lifted. Executions have subsequently accelerated. Over 300 people were put to death last year, a record tally for the kingdom. This year, 100 executions were documented by May alone. One possible reason for the spike, according to experts, is that additional drugs appear to have been added to the list of those meriting capital punishment. 'We've monitored death-sentence cases of numerous foreign nationals for years, and drug offences are usually linked to substances like amphetamines or cocaine,' Duaa Dhainy, a researcher with the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, told MEE. 'However, we've noticed that from 2024 onwards, many foreigners have been executed for possession of hashish, so they've expanded the offences that can lead to execution. All of the Ethiopians and Somali executions we documented this year were linked to hashish possession or smuggling.' For the family of 27-year-old Khalid Mohammed Ibrahim, the news the executions for drug offences were resuming has plunged them into heartache. Ibrahim's older brother insists his sibling is innocent and said it has been a harrowing seven years for the family since he was arrested. 'He tried to enter the country through Yemen,' Muleta told MEE. 'A border guard encouraged him to tell his jailers that he was a drug smuggler, saying it would get him sent to court and quickly cleared since there was no evidence. He believed them.' Fleeing persecution Muleta said Ibrahim was effectively forced out of his own country. Hailing from the town of Chelenqo in Ethiopia's Oromia region, he was among the students who took part in the Oromo protests of 2016, which eventually culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn two years later. Both brothers were among thousands of youths jailed for taking part in the anti-government uprising, Muleta recalled. 'We were told that executions would begin shortly after Eid al-Adha, and now they have started' - prisoner at Najiran jail, Saudi Arabia Expelled from school and unable to apply for university, Ibrahim tried to move on with life, getting married and working as a labourer for a few years. But then his wife became pregnant. 'He wanted to afford a better life for his son, but [the government] closed all opportunities for him,' said Muleta. 'That is why he left Ethiopia.' Ibrahim never lived as a free man in Saudi Arabia, as he was detained immediately upon arrival in 2018. After 11 court appearances, he was sentenced to death in October 2019. He has never had the opportunity to meet his son, who is now eight years old. Dhainy said cases like Ibrahim's typically proceed through the courts to the royal court, Saudi Arabia's highest, where death sentences are signed by the king. 'However, sometimes the documents show that the accused never had a lawyer,' Dhainy said. Trade unions from 36 countries protest against Saudi Arabia's treatment of migrant workers Read More » 'Also, there is no guarantee that the detainee understood the charges, had a translator or was aware of the content of documents, including confessions, that they are sometimes made to sign.' Muleta said his brother told him that torture and beatings are commonplace at Najiran prison. Emotionally drained, the family's torment has been worse in recent weeks. 'It has been hell for my parents,' Muleta adds. 'They are going crazy. We have tried everything, we tried begging officials for help, but no one has done anything.' Several inmates on death row at Najiran also told MEE that their families have spent years pleading for assistance from their government, including Ethiopian diplomats based in Saudi Arabia. The Ethiopian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which has a documented history of covering up the suffering of Ethiopians caught up in the Saudi judicial system, has been criticised for its inaction on the matter. Middle East Eye has asked Ambassador Muktar Kedir Abdu and the Ethiopian foreign ministry for comment, without response. Somali pressure In Somalia, intense media coverage and campaigning by families of death row inmates has led to the Somali government openly appealing to Saudi authorities for leniency, and greater public awareness of the danger. Hiiraan Online, a Somali news site, has covered the plight of Somalis sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia extensively. 'Our reporting has helped bring national and international attention to the plight of nearly 50 Somalis facing execution in Saudi Arabia - many of them coerced into smuggling under false pretences,' Dalmar Gure, editor-in-chief of Hiiraan Online, told MEE. 'Together with pressure from families, Somali media coverage helped spur diplomatic engagement, including talks on prisoner transfers and appeals for clemency.' The Najiran prison contingent isn't the only large group of Africans on death row in Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, UN officials raised concerns about the imminent executions of 26 Egyptians held at Tabouk prison in the north on similar drug offences. They condemned the sentences as a 'violation of international law'. Last week, over 30 rights groups, mostly based in the Middle East and Africa, published an open letter calling on the crown prince to commute the death sentences of over a hundred Ethiopians, Egyptians and Somalis.
Saudi Gazette
19 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia facilitates return of 65,000 Iranian pilgrims after Hajj
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has successfully facilitated the return of nearly 65,000 Iranian pilgrims following the completion of Hajj 1446, with another 11,000 scheduled to depart in the coming days. The coordinated effort reflects royal directives by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aimed at ensuring safe and efficient travel procedures for all pilgrims. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed that over 2,000 shuttle trips were organized between Arar Airport and the Jadidat Arar Port, while 200 buses completed more than 1,500 journeys across Iraqi territory to the Iranian border. The Ministry of Interior and General Directorate of Passports also deployed extensive support to ensure the process proceeded safely and smoothly.
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia highlights global leadership in protecting children in cyberspace
Saudi Gazette report GENEVA — The Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations in Geneva organized an event on enhancing capacity building to protect children in cyberspace as a shared global responsibility. This was part of the global initiative titled 'Child Protection in Cyberspace' (CPC) launched by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The event was held on the sidelines of the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) and the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF). The CPC initiative aims to provide a safe and empowering environment for children worldwide. The session, attended by the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Ambassador Abdulmohsen Majed bin Khothaila, featured participation from the GCF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the WeProtect Global Alliance. The session highlighted Saudi Arabia's pioneering efforts in protecting children in cyberspace through a comprehensive and proactive approach that includes implementing national frameworks, developing educational programs, and enhancing international cooperation in the field. These efforts align with the objectives of Vision 2030, which places investment in human capital at the core of social and economic development. Meanwhile, the GCF launched a joint project with UNICEF aimed at training and preparing over 5 million parents and caregivers worldwide on best practices to protect children from cyber risks, along with providing specialized technical support to child helpline service providers in 30 countries. The session concluded with participants emphasizing the importance of building effective partnerships between countries, international organizations, and the private sector to implement comprehensive capacity-building programs and ensure the protection of children in cyberspace.
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Nature conservation ‘key' to tackling climate change
TDT | Manama His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa affirmed the importance of environmental conservation in safeguarding natural resources, strengthening the Kingdom's resilience to climate change, and advancing sustainable development goals. These efforts align with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman yesterday chaired a meeting at Riffa Palace to review the latest developments in the Kingdom's afforestation plan and the Bahrain Mangroves Initiative. During the meeting, His Highness was briefed on the implementation status of this year's projects under the initiative and the afforestation plan. HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman emphasised the need for coordinated teamwork across all projects to achieve impactful environmental outcomes.
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
UAE Overtakes Saudi Arabia in Project Awards as Kingdom Eases Up
(Bloomberg) -- The United Arab Emirates is on track to surpass Saudi Arabia in the value of awarded construction projects this year as the kingdom slows down on some developments and refocuses its priorities. The UAE has awarded an estimated $31 billion in projects so far in 2025, outpacing Saudi Arabia's $20.6 billion, according to data provided by Middle East intelligence platform MEED. If the UAE maintains its lead through year-end, it will be the first time it comes out ahead since 2018. The shift comes as the kingdom eases up on projects as it faces funding pressures and also adjusts to market demand and rising costs, MEED said on Wednesday. The Gulf nation is also reprioritizing to focus on events it's hosting, like the 2029 Asian Winter Games and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, MEED added. The UAE is meanwhile pressing ahead with infrastructure and real estate projects. Still, construction across the Gulf has broadly slowed from previous years due to factors including global economic headwinds. Oil prices, which remain too low to balance many Gulf budgets, may also be contributing, adding pressure to regional finances. The kingdom has awarded just $4 billion for so-called giga projects in 2025 that are designed to back Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 diversification agenda. That compares with $24 billion last year. Across 2024, the kingdom granted a record $152 billion in construction contracts. To be sure, the current lead held by the UAE may shift in the second half as Saudi Arabia is expected to grant awards for stadiums related to the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Saudi Arabia also still holds the strongest pipeline of planned developments, with around $1.6 trillion worth of projects announced but not yet awarded, MEED said. More stories like this are available on
