Saudi Arabia has executed five Ethiopian nationals over drug-related charges, according to Human Rights Watch. The rights group said the executions took place this week and raised concerns about how the case was handled in court.
Human Rights Watch alleged that the trial did not meet due process standards. According to the group, the court proceedings lasted only a few minutes, adding to criticism over whether the defendants received a fair hearing before the death sentences were carried out.
The case has drawn attention to Saudi Arabia’s use of capital punishment in drug cases and to broader concerns from rights advocates about legal safeguards for foreign nationals facing serious charges. The report also places focus on the treatment of Ethiopian citizens in the kingdom’s justice system.
With only limited details publicly available, the executions are likely to deepen scrutiny of Saudi judicial practices and its handling of death penalty cases involving migrants and non-Saudi defendants.
