Year
How to use the database
HANDS OFF CAIN’S 2015 REPORT
The worldwide situation (as of 30 June 2016)
EXECUTIONS IN 2014
EXECUTIONS IN 2015 (as of 30 June)
The most important facts of 2015 (and the first six months of 2016)
ADDRESS of Pope Francis
THE SMILING FACE OF THE MULLAHS
Reportage by Sergio D'Elia
ANALYSIS OF THE 2015 REPORT DATA AND OBJECTIVES OF HANDS OFF CAIN
Reportage by Marco Perduca
"THE ABOLITIONIST OF THE YEAR 2015” AWARD
Protocol of understanding between NTC and CNF
Dossier on death penalty and homosexuality
Final declaration of the Cairo workshop
Goals
Achievements
GENERAL MOTION OF THE FIFTH CONGRESS OF HOC
RESOLUTION OF THE KIGALI CONFERENCE
U.N. RESOLUTION 2014

U.N. RESOLUTION 2012
U.N. RESOLUTION 2010

REPORT ON THE 2ND ANNUAL EU FORUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN ZAMBIA

Videos

DECLARATION OF LIBREVILLE

Publications
Hands Off Cain Headquarters
U.N. RESOLUTION 2008

U.N. RESOLUTION 2007

Appeal To The United Nations
Board of Directors

LETHAL TRADE DOSSIER
2014 FREETOWN CONFERENCE Final Declaration
THE COTONOU DECLARATION 2014
DOSSIER IRAQ 2003

DOSSIER ON MORATORIUM
DOSSIER IRAQ 2012

DOSSIER USA 2011

NOBEL LAUREATES APPEAL
Bulletin Board
Sign up
Join appeal
Newsletter
Our Publications

SAUDI ARABIA: 37 ETHIOPIANS AMONG SCORES OF FOREIGN NATIONALS AT ‘IMMINENT RISK’ OF EXECUTION

June 24, 2025:

At least 37 Ethiopian men are facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia for drug-related offences, according to a joint statement by 31 civil society and human rights organizations, which raised alarm over what they described as an “imminent risk” of execution for hundreds of foreign nationals in the kingdom.
In a joint statement released on 17 June 2025, the groups said they are “gravely fearful for the lives” of detainees, particularly Ethiopian, Somali, and Egyptian nationals, amid what they described as a “dramatic surge” in executions for non-lethal drug-related offences. Citing data from the Saudi Press Agency, the organizations said 98 individuals have been executed in 2025 alone for drug-related offences, with most being foreign nationals.
The statement noted that “19 Somali and seven Ethiopian nationals have been publicly reported as executed this year, all for ‘smuggling hashish’.” It added that “three Ethiopian nationals were executed on 16 June alone,” while others reportedly live in fear of execution at any moment. It further stated that the 37 Ethiopian men, along with 27 Somali nationals, are being held on death row in Najran Central Prison in southwestern Saudi Arabia, while 26 Egyptian nationals are detained in Tabuk Central Prison in the northwest of the country.
The joint statement—signed by groups including Reprieve, ALQST for Human Rights, and the African Academy of Diplomacy—alleged that many of the detainees are “likely victims of human trafficking,” and were “coerced or deceived into transporting illicit substances.” They added that most were not given an opportunity to “plead their innocence in court.”
The statement cited what the groups called systemic violations of fair trial rights, including denial of legal representation, absence of consular support, and use of “torture-tainted confessions” as primary evidence during trials. These alleged practices, they argue, are in breach of both Saudi domestic laws and international obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Arab Charter on Human Rights.
The joint appeal also refers to recent comments by the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, who called on Saudi Arabia to halt the executions and abolish the death penalty for drug offences. The rapporteur stated that “violations of fair trial guarantees leading to the imposition of the death penalty render such sentences arbitrary and unlawful.”
Beyond the legal concerns, the organizations described what they called an “extreme cruelty” in how executions are carried out. Families are “frequently not informed” of execution dates, and often only learn of their loved ones’ deaths through the media. In many cases, bodies are not returned, and burial sites are not disclosed, the statement added.
Of the 154 executions reported in Saudi Arabia this year, the groups said 98 were for drug-related offences, with 69 foreign nationals among them.
The organizations urged the Saudi government to commute all death sentences for crimes that do not meet the threshold of “most serious crimes” under international law, to declare an official moratorium on executions, and to revise domestic legislation that permits the death penalty for offences not involving intentional killing.
A previous report by BBC also raised concern over the fate of Ethiopian nationals held in Najran Central Prison, in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Citing family members, the report stated that prison officials informed them executions would be carried out “before Eid al-Adha festival.”
BBC reported that 47 Ethiopians had been sentenced to death, including some already executed. The report also noted rising anxiety among detainees who are not informed of execution dates.

(Source: Addis Standard, 20/06/2025)

2025
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
  2024
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2023
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2022
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2021
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
 
2020
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2019
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2018
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2017
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2016
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2015
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
 
2014
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2013
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2012
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2011
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2010
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2009
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
 
2008
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2007
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2006
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2005
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2004
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
 
IRAN - Wife of Djalali pleads for EU action
  IRAN - Hands off Cain Year End Report: At least 284 executions in 2020  
  IRAN: HANDS OFF CAIN, THE HANGING OF THE PROTESTER MOSTAFA SALEHI IS A SHAME FOR THE SO-CALLED DEMOCRATIC WORLD   
  USA: ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER’, BUT IS IT ONLY RACISM?  
  IRAN. HANDS OFF CAIN, REDUCTION OF DRUG EXECUTIONS BUT NUMBERS REMAIN WORRISOME  
  HUMAN RIGHTS: DEMONSTRATION OF THE RADICAL PARTY BEFORE IRANIAN EMBASSY 14 FEBRUARY  
news
-
latest actions
-
data base
-
actions
-
who we are
-
registered users
-
credits