Teklay Zinaw protests alongside fellow Ethiopians in New Zealand outside the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Auckland denouncing Saudi Arabian crimes against their people. Photo / Richard Robinson
Teklay Zinaw protests alongside fellow Ethiopians in New Zealand outside the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Auckland denouncing Saudi Arabian crimes against their people. Photo / Richard Robinson
About 100 Ethiopians gathered in Auckland's Aotea Square this afternoon for a lunchtime rally to protest against Saudi Arabian "crimes" against Ethiopians.
Saudi authorities last week began a clampdown on illegal migrant workers which led to clashes in its capital, Riyadh, where at least five people have been killed.
"Ethiopians in Auckland hereby demand the immediate halt of the barbaric act in general, the killings, the gang-rape and mistreatment," a statement distributed at the protest said.
"We are shocked by the atrocities, cruelty, killings, rape and beatings of Ethiopian immigrants by Saudi security forces and police-backed thugs called shebab."
Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom said he had information that three Ethiopian citizens had been killed in the clashes.
But Saudi authorities said three Saudis were among the dead, along with two foreign nationals.
The Auckland protest was part of rallies held worldwide against the attacks, with demonstrations in Switzerland, the UK, Norway and the US.