{
  "id": 18897,
  "title": "Death row inmates desperate to escape execution in Saudi Arabia call the BBC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/death-row-inmates-desperate-to-escape-execution-in-saudi-arabia-call",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-07-31T23:41:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80nkgdnl4no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Desperate death row inmates from Ethiopia are reaching out to the BBC for help as they await execution in a Saudi prison. In a recent conversation with the BBC, Habtom, an Ethiopian man on death row in Khamis Mushait, expressed his anger and fear over his government's apparent lack of action. He and other prisoners, including Pakistanis, Sudanese, and Jordanians, are among the dozens of Ethiopians facing execution for drug-smuggling offenses. In the past two years, 35 Ethiopians were executed in Saudi Arabia, compared to just two in 2025. Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Reprieve, argue that due process is rarely followed, with defendants often not having access to a lawyer or court papers. The situation has been exacerbated by the ongoing Tigray civil war, with many Ethiopians fleeing to Saudi Arabia seeking better lives. However, upon arrival, they were ensnared in a flawed legal system that failed to provide them with adequate protection. Rights groups continue to call for an end to the executions, urging the Saudi government to comply with international law and ensure proper due process for these desperate individuals.",
  "summary": "Dozens of Ethiopians are awaiting execution - some called the BBC to tell their stories.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}