Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — May 12, 2026 | Horn News Hub
Patriarch Abba Mathias I, head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, has called on the Ethiopian government, Saudi authorities, and international human rights organizations to intervene on behalf of Ethiopian nationals facing death sentences in Saudi Arabia.
In a message released on Tuesday from Addis Ababa, the Patriarch expressed deep concern over the condition of Ethiopian migrants reportedly detained and sentenced to death after traveling abroad in search of better opportunities.
Quoting Hebrews 13:3, the Patriarch urged Ethiopians to stand in solidarity with those suffering and described compassion toward prisoners and the distressed as a fundamental expression of Christian faith.
The statement said the church had learned through media reports that Ethiopian citizens in Saudi Arabia were “under the shadow of death,” and appealed to the Ethiopian government to intensify diplomatic engagement with senior Saudi officials to seek the reversal of the sentences and facilitate the return of the detainees to Ethiopia.
The Patriarch stressed that no Ethiopian citizen should face execution because of language barriers or lack of adequate legal representation during judicial proceedings abroad.
Addressing Saudi authorities directly, the church leader appealed for mercy, citing the long-standing relations between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia. He called for the death penalties to be commuted to prison sentences.
The statement also urged international human rights organizations to pay attention to the cases, arguing that some of the accused may have undergone legal processes in a language they did not understand.
The Patriarch further called on Orthodox Christians and Ethiopians at large to pray and work collectively toward securing a solution for the affected citizens.
The message concluded with prayers for Ethiopia and its people and was issued in the name of the church leadership on May 12, 2026.
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