A Senegalese woman, Mbayang Diop, who has been on death row in Saudi Arabia for nearly ten years, may face execution by the end of the year. According to Alioune Tine, a Senegalese human rights defender, Diop's life is in imminent danger, with only three months left to secure her release. Tine took to social media to sound the alarm and appeal for clemency from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Diop was arrested in June 2016 after the death of her employer and was subsequently sentenced to death in April 2017 by the Saudi judiciary for murder. She is currently being held at the Fayçaliyah prison near Damman. The sentence has not been carried out until now because the children of her victim were minors. However, with the children set to reach the age of majority by the end of the year, the situation has changed.
According to Mamadou Diop, the brother of Mbayang Diop, the children of the victim will reach the age of majority soon, which could lead to a change in her sentence. Under Saudi law, the relatives of the victim have the power to decide whether to pardon Diop or accept financial compensation, which could result in a commutation of her sentence. This development has sparked renewed concern for Diop's fate.
Alioune Tine, a former Africa director for Amnesty International, has joined forces with Boubacar Sèye, head of the NGO Horizon sans Frontières (HSF), to campaign for Diop's release. Tine is calling on human rights organizations and women's rights groups to come together to demand a pardon for the detained woman. He emphasizes that time is running out, with only three months left to act.
The case has attracted attention from various quarters, including the Senegalese government. In July 2025, HSF praised the efforts of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who had been in touch with King Salman to try and secure Diop's release. The organization encouraged the president to continue pursuing diplomatic channels to save Diop's life.
The incident that led to Diop's arrest and subsequent sentencing occurred in August 2016, when Saudi Arabia's foreign minister visited Dakar to ease tensions between the two countries following her arrest. Despite these efforts, Diop's situation remains precarious, with her fate hanging in the balance.
Human rights organizations and advocates are rallying behind Diop, urging the Saudi authorities to show mercy and commute her sentence. As the deadline for her execution draws near, efforts are being intensified to secure her release and prevent a tragic outcome.
Key points
- Mbayang Diop faces imminent execution in Saudi Arabia for a crime committed in 2016.
- The sentence can be commuted if the victim's family pardons Diop or accepts financial compensation.
- Human rights organizations are urging clemency and calling for Diop's release.
