Saudi Arabia executed five Ethiopian nationals in the Asir region on 5 November 2026.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The Interior Ministry said the five were convicted of participating in smuggling hashish into the kingdom.[1][12][13][3][4][5][6][7][8][14][11] The ministry recorded the penalty as a discretionary taazir execution.[1][11] The executions were carried out on Thursday in Asir in the south of the country.[1][12][4][5]
An AFP tally based on official data put total executions in Saudi Arabia in 2026 at 205.[1][12][5][7][8][9][10] The same tally counted 124 people executed in drug cases this year, a majority of all executions.[1][7] Foreigners accounted for 109 of this year’s executions, including 32 Ethiopians as the largest foreign group.[1][7] Saudi authorities had executed five Ethiopians in a single day in June and five in a single day in July on similar charges.[12][5]
Human Rights Watch warned in July that at least 79 detained Ethiopians remained at imminent risk of execution on similar charges.[1][12][5] Last year executions reached a second straight annual record with 356 people put to death, including 243 in drug cases.[1] Saudi authorities say executions follow exhaustion of all appeals and aim to maintain security and protect residents from drugs.[1] Rights groups say the executions undermine the kingdom’s efforts to polish its image.[1]
The Interior Ministry named the five executed men as Seqaw Asay Brato Tesfay, Kenfe Teklay Hadosh Fuado, Mekele Merhan Gerzagir Gebra, Desta Gebre Kiros Ambaya and Mahari Gebre Howarie Hilah Hilasa.[15][2][11] The ministry gave the execution date as Thursday 25 Rabi al-Thani 1448 AH, corresponding to 5 November 2026, in the Asir region.[16]
The Ministry said security agencies arrested the five before referring their case to the competent court, and that their sentences became final after appeal and Supreme Court endorsement before a royal order for execution.[2][13][3][6][11]
The announcement was the third such execution announcement in recent months.[12]