‘Dead Man Walking’: Ethiopian Migrants on Saudi Death Row Plead for Mercy Over Drug Convictions

Dozens of Ethiopian migrants facing execution in Saudi Arabia have appealed for international intervention, alleging unfair trials and harsh treatment as the kingdom continues to carry out a record number of executions for drug-related offences.

One prisoner, identified only by the pseudonym Amanuel for security reasons, described living in constant fear inside Khamis Mushait Prison in southwestern Saudi Arabia, where he says executions often take place without warning.

“I’m a dead man walking,” Amanuel said. “After my friends were executed, I don’t eat food, I don’t drink water.”

CNN obtained Amanuel’s testimony from inside the prison, where human rights organisations estimate that around 60 Ethiopian inmates sentenced to death on drug-related charges are being held in a single cell block, with more detained elsewhere in the facility.

Rights advocates argue that the cases reflect a broader pattern affecting vulnerable migrant workers.

“These are not isolated cases,” said Maya Foa, Chief Executive of the human rights organisation Reprieve. “There is a clear pattern of Saudi authorities targeting vulnerable migrants. Often, their true ‘crime’ appears to have been crossing the border in search of a better life.”

CNN also spoke with relatives of three Ethiopian prisoners on death row, all of whom said they only learned of their loved ones’ arrests and death sentences through community contacts rather than official government notifications.

One family member, identified as Selam to protect their identity, appealed directly to Saudi authorities.

“Please, Saudi government, we beg your mercy for my brother and others in a similar situation,” Selam said.

Record Executions Raise Global Concern

According to Saudi government records compiled by non-governmental organisations, 356 people were executed in Saudi Arabia in 2025, marking the highest annual total in the country’s recent history.

Of those executions, 240 were linked to drug offences, with foreign nationals accounting for the majority of those executed.

Human rights monitors also reported that 71 people have already been executed this year for non-violent drug offences, with Ethiopian nationals representing the largest group among foreign prisoners.

The sharp increase contrasts with 2023, when rights groups documented only two executions for similar offences throughout the year.

Concerns Over Fair Trial Rights

Legal experts and rights organisations have questioned whether many foreign defendants receive fair trials.

Taha al-Hajji, legal director of the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, alleged that many migrant workers are denied adequate legal representation and interpretation services.

“Capital trials in Saudi Arabia routinely fail to meet even minimum guarantees of fairness,” he said.

According to al-Hajji, some migrants have reportedly been convicted based on confessions obtained under torture, allegations Saudi authorities have consistently denied in previous cases.

Journey From Conflict to Death Row

Amanuel said he fled Ethiopia’s Tigray region during the country’s civil war before spending two years stranded in Yemen.

After eventually crossing into Saudi Arabia, he worked briefly as a shepherd before accepting another job offered by his employer.

According to his account, he was asked to transport goods between locations and trusted the Saudi men who hired him.

During one delivery, Saudi security forces stopped his vehicle and allegedly discovered hashish inside, leading to his arrest and eventual death sentence.

Amanuel maintains he did not know he was transporting illegal drugs.

Growing Calls for Intervention

Human rights organisations continue to urge Saudi Arabia to halt executions for non-violent drug offences and review the convictions of foreign nationals facing capital punishment.

Campaigners are also calling on the international community and the Ethiopian government to increase diplomatic efforts aimed at protecting citizens sentenced to death abroad.