Monday February 17, 2025
FILE - A 2015 photo shows a public execution in Saudi Arabia, where capital punishment is enforced for crimes such as drug trafficking, murder, and terrorism. On February 16, 2025, Saudi authorities beheaded Mohamed Nur Hussein Ja'al, a Somali national convicted of drug smuggling, in Najran.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Saudi authorities executed a Somali national convicted of drug smuggling and a Saudi citizen found guilty of murder, the Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday.
The Somali national, identified as Mohamed Nur Hussein Ja'al, was arrested for attempting to smuggle hashish into Saudi Arabia. A specialized court found him guilty and sentenced him to death under tazir punishment, a discretionary ruling in Islamic law for severe crimes. After an appeal, the Supreme Court upheld the sentence, and a royal decree authorized the execution, which was carried out on Sunday in Najran, southern Saudi Arabia.
Hussein was beheaded in accordance with Saudi Arabia's execution practices. His family, in an emotional statement to SMS Somalia TV, accused Saudi authorities of carrying out an unjust execution, claiming that their son did not receive a fair trial. The family further alleged that Hussein was denied due process and that they had little access to legal representation or opportunities for appeal.
Saudi Arabia enforces one of the world's strictest legal systems, with capital punishment frequently applied for drug-related offences, murder, and terrorism charges. The Ministry of Interior said the executions reinforce the government's stance against drug trafficking and violent crime, emphasizing that strict legal consequences await offenders.
This latest execution spotlights the broader plight of Somali migrants in Saudi Arabia, where at least 50 Somali nationals are currently on death row, primarily for drug-related offences. Many of them, rights groups say, were coerced or deceived into smuggling illicit substances under duress or false job offers.
The Somali government and diplomatic missions have been appealing for clemency on behalf of these prisoners. The Somali Consulate in Jeddah says it has been engaged in direct negotiations with Saudi officials, seeking to commute death sentences to lengthy prison terms. Families of those on death row have also called for stronger government intervention to prevent further executions.
Many Somali migrants in the Middle East and Gulf states face limited legal protections, often encountering language barriers, inadequate legal representation, and harsh judicial processes.
The Somali government has a complex stance on the death penalty. While Somalia itself enforces capital punishment, particularly for murder, treason, and terrorism-related crimes, its government has actively intervened on behalf of citizens facing execution abroad. However, critics argue that diplomatic efforts have been weak in preventing the execution of Somalis in countries with strict legal codes like Saudi Arabia.