Saudi Arabia Executes Two Ethiopians, Foreign Deaths Hit 100+

Photo: AFP

Saudi Arabia put two Ethiopian men to death on Thursday after they were found guilty of drug smuggling. This execution pushed the number of foreigners executed this year to more than 100. Human rights groups around the world have criticised Saudi Arabia for using the death penalty so often, especially for drug-related crimes.

Who Were The Two Ethiopians?

The Saudi interior ministry released a statement saying that the two men were named Khalil Qasim Muhammad Omar and Murad Yaqub Adam Siyo. Both of them were Ethiopian citizens. They were arrested because they were caught smuggling hashish, which is a type of drug made from the cannabis plant.

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The ministry said: “Upon referral to the competent court, a verdict was issued confirming the charges against them and sentencing them to death.”

This means that after they were caught, they were taken to court. The court checked all the proofs against them and decided that they should be given the death penalty.

How Many People Has Saudi Arabia Executed in 2025?

According to a count, so far in 2025, Saudi Arabia has executed 189 people in total. Out of these, 88 were Saudi citizens, and the rest were foreigners like these two Ethiopians.

In 2024, the number of foreign executions only crossed 100 in November. But this year, by July, Saudi Arabia has already executed more than 100 foreigners. This shows that executions have become more frequent in 2025.

Comparison With Previous Years

Here is how the numbers looked in past years:

• In 2023, Saudi Arabia executed 170 people.

• In 2022, the number was 196, which was the highest known number before.

• In 2024, there were at least 338 executions, which was almost double compared to 2023.

This data shows that the number of people being executed in Saudi Arabia has been rising rapidly in the last few years.

Why Are Human Rights Groups Angry?

Many human rights groups have criticised Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty. They say that many people who are sentenced to death do not get fair trials. Trials should be fair, open, and transparent so that innocent people do not get punished.

Earlier this week, Amnesty International criticised the increase in executions. Kristine Beckerle, who is the deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty, said: “We are witnessing a truly horrifying trend, with foreign nationals being put to death at a startling rate for crimes that should never carry the death penalty.”

This means that Amnesty International believes that crimes like drug smuggling should not lead to death sentences. They also say that the trials in Saudi Arabia are not always fair.

Why Are Foreigners At Greater Risk?

Amnesty International also said that foreigners face extra problems when they are arrested in Saudi Arabia. This is because:

• They do not always know the Arabic language.

• They may not fully understand the legal system.

• The judicial system in Saudi Arabia does not have much transparency.

• Many do not have strong legal support.

Because of these reasons, foreigners are at a disadvantage and may not get a fair chance to defend themselves properly in court.

When Did Saudi Arabia Resume Drug-Related Executions?

Saudi Arabia had stopped giving death penalties for drug-related crimes for nearly three years. But in late 2022, the country started executing people again for such crimes.

Since then, the number of people executed for drug smuggling has been increasing. In fact, more than half of the people executed in 2025 were foreigners, and most of them were sentenced for drug-related crimes.

What Do Other Human Rights Organisations Say?

The London-based group Reprieve also criticised Saudi Arabia this month. They said: “In (Saudi Crown Prince) Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Arabia you can attend a rave in the desert, but you can also be executed for smoking hashish.”

This was said by Jeed Basyouni, who is the head of Reprieve’s death penalty projects in the Middle East. She meant that even though the Crown Prince is trying to make Saudi Arabia look modern by allowing music concerts and parties, at the same time, the government is still using very strict punishments like the death penalty for small drug crimes.

Why Does Saudi Arabia Use The Death Penalty?

Saudi Arabian authorities say that the death penalty is necessary to maintain public order and safety. They believe that harsh punishments help to stop crimes like drug smuggling.

They also say that a person is only executed after all chances of appeal are finished. This means the person has no other option left to challenge the court’s decision.

What Happened After The Jamal Khashoggi Case?

Saudi Arabia faced global criticism after Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who lived in the US, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey in 2018. He was a government critic, and his death raised many questions about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 And The Death Penalty

Saudi Arabia is currently trying to improve its global image. It is spending a lot of money on building tourist spots and hosting top sports events like the 2034 World Cup. These steps are part of the country’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to reduce its dependence on oil and show the world that it is a modern, open, and welcoming country.

But human rights activists say that executing so many people damages this image. They believe that a modern society should not use such harsh punishments, especially for crimes like drug smuggling.

What Does This Mean For Foreign Workers?

Millions of foreigners work in Saudi Arabia. Many come from Asian and African countries to earn money for their families. But the increasing number of executions shows that foreign workers need to be extra careful about the laws in Saudi Arabia. Even small crimes that may not lead to death penalties in their home countries can result in execution in Saudi Arabia.

In summary, the execution of two Ethiopian men this week has once again brought the world’s attention to Saudi Arabia’s strict justice system. More than 100 foreigners have been executed this year alone, and human rights groups continue to demand fair trials and an end to the death penalty for non-violent crimes.

Saudi Arabia’s leaders say that these laws are important to keep the country safe and drug-free. However, many believe that the kingdom’s dream of becoming a modern and friendly country will not come true unless it makes its justice system fairer and stops using death as punishment for such crimes.