Close to Fifty Somalis Facing Execution in Saudi Arabia Appeal for Mercy

**Mogadishu (AX) — An urgent situation unfolds in Saudi Arabia, where around 50 Somali citizens face capital punishment for alleged drug smuggling. Family members and Somali authorities are fervently seeking clemency, arguing for a reduction of sentences from the grim reality of execution to imprisonment. These individuals, mostly young, initially ventured to Saudi Arabia in search of employment opportunities. They were either coerced or misled into participating in drug trafficking across the Saudi border. Now, with the country’s execution rates climbing to unprecedented levels, Somali officials and the families of those detained are vigorously advocating for mercy.**

**In a recent press statement, the Somali Consulate in Jeddah shed light on the plight of these detainees, captured near the tumultuous Saudi-Yemeni border with considerable quantities of narcotics. Somali Consul Ahmed Mahmoud Diriye disclosed ongoing dialogues with their Saudi counterparts to explore leniency for the prisoners.**

“We’re urging the Saudi regime to take a second look at these sentences,” Diriye appealed, “given how many of these young folks landed in this predicament unknowingly. Some fell prey to criminal rings and didn’t fathom the harsh consequences of their actions.” Notably, discussions have extended beyond consular efforts, with Somali top brass, including the foreign minister, engaging in talks. The justice minister is slated to continue these crucial interactions imminently.

Saudi Arabia, notorious for its stern and public method of execution, commonly converts open spaces into venues for such events. The executed individuals’ names and alleged crimes are broadcasted on governmental portals, underscoring the kingdom’s unyielding approach to justice.

For numerous families, the experience borders on nightmarish. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdiweli, a kin of an incarcerated individual, lamented how his cousin and others thought they were participating in legitimate work, only to end up as pawns in a sinister game. “Enticed with promises of cash for bringing in these substances, they had no clue about the severity of the repercussions until it was too late,” Abdiweli bemoaned. His words echo the heartbreak of countless others grappling with similar situations.

Saudi Arabia, infamously zero-tolerant towards narcotics, hands out a staggering number of death sentences in such cases. Amnesty International highlights a spike in executions within the kingdom, tallying over 198 in the year 2024 alone, predominantly for drug-related allegations. Despite earlier vows to scale back on capital punishments, the trend has instead accelerated, with Amnesty noting executions occur every other day on average.

For the Somali prisoners, this ordeal is a living nightmare. As reported by Abdiweli, some have witnessed firsthand the dreadful executions of fellow inmates from Yemen and Ethiopia, intensifying their fear and anguish. “Watching others beheaded filled them with unspeakable terror,” Abdiweli shared. “Now, they cling to a thread of hope, yearning for intervention that could safeguard their lives.”

Determined to alter the grim fate of these detainees, their families and Somali delegates persist in their advocacy for sentence commutations to incarceration. While diplomatic actions have occasionally postponed executions, the conclusive result is still shrouded in uncertainty. The families’ hopes hinge on sustained diplomatic efforts and the potential for compassion from Saudi officials.

It’s worth noting that while 106 countries have done away with the death penalty, capital punishment remains a grim reality in both Saudi Arabia and Somalia. Families of the detainees wish to rely on steadfast diplomacy and, possibly, a change of heart from Saudi authorities.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed. With inputs from the BBC Somali Service.

Edited by: Ali Musa

alimusa@axadletimes.com

Axadle international–Monitoring