أثيوبيا

Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s richest countries, is detaining thousands of migrant workers in appalling conditions. 

Human Rights Watch identified a security complex in Riyadh where hundreds of mostly Ethiopian and some South Asian workers are being held without adequate food and shelter before being deported.

We heard some statements from those detained.

Ahmad from Oromia region, Ethiopia

Actor’s voice

The biggest problem is Covid. 400 people in one room and no social distancing. We only have three toilets. Many people are sick. I got sick. I have a bad headache.

Fammi from Oromia region, Ethiopia

Actor’s voice

The place is not clean. We cannot sleep properly. 180 people are very sick. We appealed to the prison to give us medication and instead of medication, we were beaten.

VOICEOVER

Detainees allege that guards have tortured and beaten them with rubber coated metal rods, leading to at least three deaths in custody.

Ahmad from Oromia region, Ethiopia

Actor’s voice

When we tell them our problems, they hit us. Five days ago, a man was beaten severely. He was taken and never came back.

Fammi from Oromia region, Ethiopia

Actor’s voice

They took one of my friends and he was beaten severely. And then, after five mintues, he was taken to a hospital and that’s where he died.

VOICEOVER

The Saudi authorities should immediately end the torture and other ill-treatment of detainees, and ensure that detention conditions meet international standards, including by enabling safe social distancing in facilities to protect against contracting Covid-19.

It should also release the most vulnerable detainees and ensure that detention is only used as an exceptional measure of last resort.