Bishops of the Church of England have called on the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to stop the executions of Ethiopian Christians

Three bishops of the Church of England have issued an official appeal to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed ibn Salman, demanding an immediate moratorium on the executions of Ethiopian Christiansheld in the Khamis Mushait prison. According to Christian Today, the clergy expressed deep concern over human rights violations and possible religious discrimination against the prisoners.

In their appeal, the bishops of Chelmsford, Southwark, and Winchester noted that many of the 58 prisoners facing the death penalty on charges of drug-related crimes are Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. According to the authors of the letter, these individuals are often victims of exploitation and human trafficking, having been forced to transport goods across the border without knowing their contents.

The main concerns outlined in the letter include a lack of adequate legal protection, the use of torture, and religious discrimination. The bishops emphasized that prisoners are prohibited from wearing Christian symbols, and any expression of their faith is used as a pretext for harsher treatment. In addition, the authors of the letter condemned the practice of carrying out executions without prior notification to the families of those condemned, which, in their view, is incompatible with the prince’s obligations to promote interfaith dialogue.

The situation remains critical: despite diplomatic appeals, according to Human Rights Watch, ten Ethiopian migrants were executed in the kingdom in June and July 2026 alone. For their part, the Saudi Arabian authorities insist that the court rulings are lawful; however, international organizations, including the UN, emphasize that drug-related offenses should not be punishable by death.