The Ethiopian National Transitional Council (ENTC) sent a letter to the Saudi ambassador in the US on the reprehensible abuse of Ethiopian refugees by the Saudi border police and security forces. In its letter, ENTC expressed its disappointment in the Saudi law enforcement’s inhumane treatment of refugees, contradictory to the UNHCR guidelines. It stated the historical significance of Ethiopia to the religion of Islam and demanded the Saudi government to stop this situation immediately. Read the details below:
PRESS RELEASE
19 March 2013
Stop brutalizing Ethiopian refugees in Saudi Arabia
The Ethiopian National Transitional Council (ENTC) expressed its outrage over the brutal treatment of young Ethiopian refugees in Saudi Arabia by security forces.
In a letter to Saudi ambassador to the United State, Adel A. Al-Jubeir, ENTC demanded the government of Saudi Arabia to treat Ethiopian refugees humanely and with respect according to UNHCR guidelines.
ENTC stated: “Throughout history, Saudi Arabia nationals have been received with kind hospitality by the people of Ethiopia. Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest importers of Ethiopian food, particularly vegetable, fruits, and livestock. Saudi investors own large farms in Ethiopia. When it comes to religion and history, Ethiopia was a country where Prophet Mohammed’s followers sought refugee. The Christian king in Ethiopia did not abuse and savagely attack the Muslim refugees. Today, we are sad to witness that the police officers who are serving the Custodian of the two holiest mosques in Islam are brutally beating up young Ethiopian refugees who went to Saudi Arabia because the government in their own country is turned the country a hell on earth for them.”
ENTC wrote the letter to the Saudi ambassador after receiving a video that shows a horrific beating of young Ethiopian men by Saudi Arabia border police and local militia: http://youtu.be/vrPlqERFQOo
ENTC has also received reports that Saudi police is currently hunting down, arresting and beating undocumented Ethiopian refugees.
ENTC will continue to monitor the situation in Saudi Arabia and other countries where Ethiopians are reportedly abused.