Thousands of ethnic Tigrayans have been detained in Ethiopia after being deported from Saudi Arabia, suffering atrocious conditions and brutal treatment from guards in both countries, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday.

As per the New York-based rights group, Tigrayans in Ethiopia have been subjected to repeated abuses, including being beaten with rubber or wooden rods, deprived of access to their families, forced to pick coffee for free, and denied food and water.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-authorities-round-up-high-profile-tigrayans-including-bank-ceos-and-un-staff-428435">Ethiopian authorities round up high-profile Tigrayans, including bank CEOs and UN staff</a>

During the conflict in their northern homeland, the Tigrayans appear to have been caught up both in a harsh expulsion programme by Riyadh and in a crackdown by Ethiopia's government.

Saudi Arabia detained them mostly for irregular immigration status, where detainees also reported being beaten, stripped naked, and forced to endure freezing temperatures and insufficient space to sleep, according to the report.

"Ethiopian authorities are persecuting Tigrayans deported from Saudi Arabia by wrongfully detaining and forcibly disappearing them," HRW researcher Nadia Hardman said. "Saudi Arabia should stop contributing to this abuse by ending the forced return of Tigrayans to Ethiopia and allowing them to seek asylum or resettlement in third countries."

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, which has been fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) since late 2020, denies discrimination against Tigrayans.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-state-of-emergency-with-over-1000-arrested-in-just-two-weeks-un-raises-alarm-429902">Ethiopia state of emergency: With over 1000 arrested in just two weeks, UN raises alarm</a>

"There are no ethnic-based prison facilities or places for deportees from other countries," said spokesperson Legesse Tulu while speaking to news agency Reuters.

According to him, the report was inaccurate, unsupported by evidence, and based on people working for TPLF.

Under the state of emergency, he said, many Ethiopians have been detained on suspicion of aiding "terrorists" - the government's term for the TPLF, a long-time Tigrayan power that dominated national politics before Abiy's rule.

Human Rights Watch spoke with detainees at five centres around Ethiopia who estimated that hundreds of people were held in each.

Trhas, 33, a deported Saudi Arabian in December 2020, said she was held with 700 other deportees and put on a bus.

"We asked the federal police for food and water and the toilet, but we were beaten if we left our seats. They said, 'Bandits don’t need food'," HRW quoted her as saying.

Watch |&nbsp;Amid crackdown by the Ethiopian government on the Tigrayan rebels, thousands of people flee to Sudan

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/amid-crackdown-by-the-ethiopian-government-on-the-tigrayan-rebels-thousands-of-people-flee-to-sudan-441531/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to federal police spokesperson Jeylan Abdi, he was not aware of returnees being arrested in such circumstances.

As per Reuters, another Tigrayan living in the capital, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid retribution, told them that 3 of his relatives were deported from Saudi Arabia in July. They were initially registered with the Ethiopian Red Cross on arrival, but they were arrested at home on November 2, after a state of emergency was declared, he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Thousands of ethnic Tigrayans have been detained in Ethiopia after being deported from Saudi Arabia, suffering atrocious conditions and brutal treatment from guards in both countries, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday.

Thousands of ethnic Tigrayans have been detained in Ethiopia after being deported from Saudi Arabia, suffering atrocious conditions and brutal treatment from guards in both countries, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday. As per the New York-based rights group, Tigrayans in Ethiopia have been subjected to repeated abuses, including being beaten with rubber or wooden rods, deprived of access to their families, forced to pick coffee for free, and denied food and water. Also read | Ethiopian authorities round up high-profile Tigrayans, including bank CEOs and UN staff During the conflict in their northern homeland, the Tigrayans appear to have been caught up both in a harsh expulsion programme by Riyadh and in a crackdown by Ethiopia's government. Saudi Arabia detained them mostly for irregular immigration status, where detainees also reported being beaten, stripped naked, and forced to endure freezing temperatures and insufficient space to sleep, according to the report. "Ethiopian authorities are persecuting Tigrayans deported from Saudi Arabia by wrongfully detaining and forcibly disappearing them," HRW researcher Nadia Hardman said. "Saudi Arabia should stop contributing to this abuse by ending the forced return of Tigrayans to Ethiopia and allowing them to seek asylum or resettlement in third countries." Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, which has been fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) since late 2020, denies discrimination against Tigrayans. Also read | Ethiopia state of emergency: With over 1000 arrested in just two weeks, UN raises alarm "There are no ethnic-based prison facilities or places for deportees from other countries," said spokesperson Legesse Tulu while speaking to news agency Reuters. According to him, the report was inaccurate, unsupported by evidence, and based on people working for TPLF. Under the state of emergency, he said, many Ethiopians have been detained on suspicion of aiding "terrorists" - the government's term for the TPLF, a long-time Tigrayan power that dominated national politics before Abiy's rule. Human Rights Watch spoke with detainees at five centres around Ethiopia who estimated that hundreds of people were held in each. Trhas, 33, a deported Saudi Arabian in December 2020, said she was held with 700 other deportees and put on a bus. "We asked the federal police for food and water and the toilet, but we were beaten if we left our seats. They said, 'Bandits don’t need food'," HRW quoted her as saying. Watch | Amid crackdown by the Ethiopian government on the Tigrayan rebels, thousands of people flee to Sudan According to federal police spokesperson Jeylan Abdi, he was not aware of returnees being arrested in such circumstances. As per Reuters, another Tigrayan living in the capital, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid retribution, told them that 3 of his relatives were deported from Saudi Arabia in July. They were initially registered with the Ethiopian Red Cross on arrival, but they were arrested at home on November 2, after a state of emergency was declared, he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Beaten, abused; Ethiopia detained, abused Tigrayans deported from Saudi, reports Human Rights Watch

Ethiopia's defence minister, a key ally of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has criticised plans to transform the ruling coalition into a single party, highlighting growing divisions ahead of planned 2020 elections.

Analysts say the public split between the country's most powerful ethnic Oromo politicians could increase political uncertainty ahead of the May polls, and hinder Abiy's reformist agenda.&nbsp;

In an interview with Voice of America's Affan Oromo language service on Friday night, Defence Minister Lemma Megersa criticised the move to merge the coalition of ethno-regional parties which has ruled the country for three decades.

"I have had a different perspective from the beginning of the talks about the merger of EPRDF," said Lemma, adding that "even if that is to happen it shouldn't be done in a hurried way."

Nobel Peace Laureate Abiy's plans to transform the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) into one party have already been rejected by the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) -- the once-dominant party of late strongman Meles Zenawi.

The three other parties last week voted to unite and form the Prosperity Party (PP), which Abiy hopes will heal ethnic divisions that have marred his rule, while critics say it will only deepen them.

Lemma also rejected Abiy's philosophy "Medemer" (Amharic for synergy) which is aimed at uniting the country.

Lemma is a former president of Ethiopia's largest and most populous regional state, Oromia and is currently vice-chairman of the regional ruling party (ODP), with a large following in the region.

Abiy, himself an Oromo, came to power in April 2018 after more than two years of anti-government protests led by Ethiopia's two largest ethnic groups, the Oromo and Amhara.&nbsp;

Ethiopian analyst Abel Abate said the public break between the two men will likely add to political uncertainty in the country as it prepares to hold general elections next year.

"While the process to form PP out of the ashes of EPRDF has gone a considerable distance, it's far from complete yet. This public disagreement could fatally injure plans to form PP", he said.

Meanwhile, Horn of Africa analyst Rashid Abdi wrote on Twitter that Abiy was "in deep trouble" after being ditched by his "single most important pillar of Oromo support".

Ethiopia's defence minister, a key ally of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has criticised plans to transform the ruling coalition into a single party, highlighting growing divisions ahead of planned 2020 elections.

Ethiopia's defence minister, a key ally of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has criticised plans to transform the ruling coalition into a single party, highlighting growing divisions ahead of planned 2020 elections. Analysts say the public split between the country's most powerful ethnic Oromo politicians could increase political uncertainty ahead of the May polls, and hinder Abiy's reformist agenda. In an interview with Voice of America's Affan Oromo language service on Friday night, Defence Minister Lemma Megersa criticised the move to merge the coalition of ethno-regional parties which has ruled the country for three decades. "I have had a different perspective from the beginning of the talks about the merger of EPRDF," said Lemma, adding that "even if that is to happen it shouldn't be done in a hurried way." Nobel Peace Laureate Abiy's plans to transform the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) into one party have already been rejected by the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) -- the once-dominant party of late strongman Meles Zenawi. The three other parties last week voted to unite and form the Prosperity Party (PP), which Abiy hopes will heal ethnic divisions that have marred his rule, while critics say it will only deepen them. Lemma also rejected Abiy's philosophy "Medemer" (Amharic for synergy) which is aimed at uniting the country. Lemma is a former president of Ethiopia's largest and most populous regional state, Oromia and is currently vice-chairman of the regional ruling party (ODP), with a large following in the region. Abiy, himself an Oromo, came to power in April 2018 after more than two years of anti-government protests led by Ethiopia's two largest ethnic groups, the Oromo and Amhara. Ethiopian analyst Abel Abate said the public break between the two men will likely add to political uncertainty in the country as it prepares to hold general elections next year. "While the process to form PP out of the ashes of EPRDF has gone a considerable distance, it's far from complete yet. This public disagreement could fatally injure plans to form PP", he said. Meanwhile, Horn of Africa analyst Rashid Abdi wrote on Twitter that Abiy was "in deep trouble" after being ditched by his "single most important pillar of Oromo support".

Ethiopia defence minister breaks ranks with ally PM Abiy

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Beaten, abused; Ethiopia detained, abused Tigrayans deported from Saudi, reports Human Rights Watch

Ethiopia defence minister breaks ranks with ally PM Abiy