Mother's Heartbreak as Son Dies in Saudi Arabia's Execution Surge
Essam al-Shazly, a 28-year-old Egyptian national, endured four harrowing years on death row in Saudi Arabia before his execution, a fate his mother insists stemmed from coercion and an unjust legal process. His mother, speaking anonymously from the family home in Hurghada, a Red Sea resort in Egypt, reveals the emotional turmoil of their daily calls, where she comforted her son while hiding her own despair.
Coerced Confession and Unjust Sentence
According to his mother, Shazly was not a drug trafficker but a fisherman who was forced into smuggling and later coerced into a confession by Saudi officials. She describes his death sentence as "unjust" and expresses disbelief at the lack of mercy shown, arguing, "Drugs are harmful it is true, but you caught a carrier, he is not a dealer. Punish him for that." Shazly was found in the Red Sea near a floating tyre containing amphetamine pills, opium, and heroin, which his mother claims was the result of being thrown into the water by smugglers.
Life on the Notorious 'Death Wing'
Shazly spent his final days in a notorious prison block in Tabuk, northern Saudi Arabia, nicknamed the "death wing" by inmates due to the high number of executions there. He told his mother they went days without sunlight, a stark contrast to Saudi Arabia's efforts to project a benign international image through events like the 2034 World Cup. In December 2024, there were 33 Egyptians on this wing facing execution for non-violent drug offences; a year later, only six remain alive.
Flawed Trials and Lack of Support
Human rights groups have condemned the trials as "deeply flawed" and involving confessions extracted under torture. Shazly's mother highlights the plight of impoverished families, noting they receive little help from embassies and cannot afford lawyers. "We are poor and live day by day," she says, underscoring the systemic issues that leave foreign nationals vulnerable. A plea for clemency filed in November highlighted inconsistencies in his confession and noted his history of severe depression, including hospital admissions in Egypt and Tabuk.
A Mother's Final Hopes Shattered
Until the end, Shazly's mother held onto hope that his sentence would be commuted. She recalls planning to buy a new dress for his return and show him around their hometown. However, on 16 December, her daily call from Shazly never came; instead, his cellmate informed her that guards had taken him at 8 a.m., with his last words being a request for forgiveness. Saudi officials have defended the executions, stating they impose the "severest penalties" against drug traffickers to protect society, but families are left without closure as bodies are not returned and burial places remain undisclosed.
