Thursday November 7, 2024
Nearly 50 Somali nationals face execution in Saudi Arabia, sparking urgent calls for clemency from Somali officials and families. (Photographer: Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images)
Mogadishu (HOL) — In Saudi Arabia, nearly 50 Somali nationals face execution for drug trafficking, prompting urgent appeals for clemency from their families and the Somali government. Many of these young detainees, originally seeking work, were reportedly coerced or deceived into smuggling illegal substances across the Saudi border. Now, with Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty at a record high, Somali officials and relatives are advocating for their sentences to be reduced to prison terms rather than public beheading.
The Somali Consulate in Jeddah confirmed the presence of these detainees near the Saudi-Yemeni border, where they were apprehended with large amounts of drugs. Somali Consul Ahmed Mahmoud Diriye reported that he and other Somali officials are in direct talks with Saudi authorities to address the prisoners’ plight.
“We requested that the Saudi government reconsider these sentences due to the circumstances many of these detainees faced,” Diriye said. “Some were unaware of the severe penalties, while others were pressured into smuggling by organized networks.” He noted that senior Somali officials, including the foreign minister, have been in contact with Saudi authorities, and Somalia’s justice minister is expected to continue discussions in the coming days.
Saudi Arabia’s primary method of execution is public beheading, with many executions conducted in open spaces. The names and crimes of those executed are published on government websites.
For some families, the situation is especially harrowing. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdiweli, a relative of one detainee, said his cousin and others believed they were embarking on a path to employment, only to be manipulated into transporting drugs. “They were promised money in exchange for bringing in these substances,” Abdiweli explained. “It wasn’t until their arrest that they realized the consequences.”
Saudi Arabia, known for its strict stance on drug-related offenses, frequently hands down death sentences in such cases. Amnesty International reports that the rate of executions in the kingdom has surged, with over 198 people executed in 2024 alone, many for drug-related charges. Despite prior commitments to limit capital punishment, Saudi executions have become more frequent, averaging one every two days, according to Amnesty.
For the Somali detainees, the situation is dire. According to Abdiweli, his detained cousin and others have witnessed the executions of fellow inmates from Yemen and Ethiopia, increasing their fear and desperation. “Seeing the others beheaded struck deep fear in them,” Abdiweli said. “Now, they are desperately seeking help, hoping their lives can be spared.”
The detainees’ families and the Somali government are pushing for sentences to be commuted to prison terms. While Saudi Arabia has postponed some executions due to Somali diplomatic efforts, the outcome remains uncertain. For the families of the detained, the hope now rests on continued diplomatic engagement and Saudi officials’ willingness to show leniency.
While 106 countries worldwide have abolished the death penalty, capital punishment remains legal in both Saudi Arabia and Somalia. For the families of the detained, the hope now rests on continued diplomatic engagement and Saudi officials’ willingness to show leniency.
- With from the BBC Somali Service