Saudi Arabia may stop beheading due to swordsmen shortages

11 March 2013 02:22 am - 35 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A joint Saudi committee composed of representatives of the ministries of interior, justice and health is mulling the replacement of beheading with firing squads for capital sentences due to shortages in government swordsmen, Saudi daily Al-Youm reported on Sunday.

The committee argued that such a step, if adopted, would not violate Islamic law, allowing heads – or emirs – of the country's 13 local administrative regions to begin using the new method when needed.

"This solution seems practical, especially in light of shortages in official swordsmen or their belated arrival to execution yards in some incidents; the aim is to avoid interruption of the regularly-taken security arrangements," the committee said in a statement.

The ultra-conservative Gulf kingdom beheaded 76 people in 2012, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Human Rights Watch (HRW) put the number at 69.

Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia's strict version of Sharia, or Islamic Law. So far this year, three people have been executed.

The beheading issue has always been a source of tension between Saudi Arabia and the international community.

Last month, Saudi Arabia slammed international reactions to its beheading of a Sri Lankan man convicted of killing her employer's baby.

Riyadh "deplores the statements made... about the execution of a Sri Lankan maid who had plotted and killed an infant by suffocating him to death one week after she arrived in the kingdom," a government spokesman said.

The case sparked widespread international condemnation, including from rights groups that said she had only been 17 years old when she was charged with murdering the baby in 2005.

The case soured the kingdom's diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka, which on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Saudi Arabia in protest.

The UN's main human rights body on Friday expressed "deep dismay" at the beheading, while the European Union said it had asked Saudi authorities to commute the death penalty. Riyadh, however, rejected the statements as "external interference" in its domestic affairs.

Saudi Arabia "respects... all rules and laws and protects the rights of its people and residents, and completely rejects any intervention in its affairs and judicial verdicts, whatever the excuse," the spokesman said. (Source: Ahram Online)

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Comments - 35

Amal Silva Monday, 11 March 2013 02:43 PM

Also God says US passport holders are exempt from death penalty.

human Monday, 11 March 2013 04:28 AM

then like rapists & killers can do their jobs easily right?
thats what u want? stupid

Calistus Jayatilleke Monday, 11 March 2013 04:29 AM

Surely, they could recruit a few guys from among our Pradeshiya Sabha members or even a few boys from the gang of God Father of Kelaniya.

edward Monday, 11 March 2013 07:39 AM

then how come Holy Shariah Law law implement it with out sword . all were liars , even Quran is fake .

RAZA Monday, 11 March 2013 02:41 AM

World must join together against death sentence as a punishment.

Kadira Monday, 11 March 2013 04:49 AM

Money can not buy civilization.

Bandula Abeysekera Monday, 11 March 2013 02:42 AM

So there will be a change to the God's will?

Punny Pellow Monday, 11 March 2013 04:56 AM

Here is a unique opportunity to increase foreign exchange earnings. Export our CUT-Throats to SA!!.

Arjuna Monday, 11 March 2013 04:56 AM

Almighty God Please help us. Holy Shariah Law going to be HARAM.

Arjuna Monday, 11 March 2013 04:58 AM

This also happened according to the god's will nobody could questioned.

Arjuna Monday, 11 March 2013 05:04 AM

Not Saudi's. But The God

Grace Monday, 11 March 2013 02:50 AM

Saudis are getting enlightened slowly with time on the cruel killing of convicts.

GC Monday, 11 March 2013 03:20 AM

I think our Government will not begin to export our swordsmen, instead of housemaids. Hopefully, that can get rid of violent MPs and their henchmen?

Rohan Nayer Monday, 11 March 2013 08:15 AM

Saudi fundamentalist your divine law is taken from Satanic Verses (Mr Salman Ruieshed)

Thugs n buddist Monday, 11 March 2013 03:22 AM

@grace
Find the true path and enlighten yourself....

Rana Raala Monday, 11 March 2013 03:23 AM

There are 241 Swardsmen in Sri Lanka. Shall we send them?

Ameer Monday, 11 March 2013 03:21 AM

The sharia law says that a murderer needs to be put to death...it does not say it should be done by the sword...

Mark Monday, 11 March 2013 03:27 AM

highly paid employment opportunities for our bella kapana ewun

Insula Monday, 11 March 2013 03:28 AM

Wahhabi Saudi Arabia i getting mote and more isolated.

Hey give up your tribal habits Enter the civilized world.

tarzan Monday, 11 March 2013 03:39 AM

and rally around supporting rape and murder

Nimal Monday, 11 March 2013 03:35 AM

another chance for come back to human life

KD Monday, 11 March 2013 10:45 AM

Beheading is suspended in Saudi Arabia not because it is inhuman but due to shortage of swordsmen. Pathetic.

PRASANNAJIT Monday, 11 March 2013 03:41 AM

There is no difference between the sword and the gun.

kumar Monday, 11 March 2013 06:49 AM

But under shariah law only a very few got death punishment for rape crime. Mostly the victims gets punishment.

Suq Madique Monday, 11 March 2013 01:27 PM

Criminals will be burnt...petrol is cheap.

Gon Banda Monday, 11 March 2013 06:54 AM

This is terrible. chopping the neck off or shooting, if there is a death penalty there must be a humane way such as lethal injection. I am against the death penalty, I am for life imprisonment or murder.

Shace-UK Monday, 11 March 2013 01:33 PM

Problem: someone murdered
solution in UK: The murderer get 8 years in prison but get released in 4 because he had a difficult up-bringing.
solution in SL: If political contacts nothing happens to the murderer , if not still nothing happens!!!
solution in Saudi: chop the murderer!!!
moral of the story: the punishment needs to be hash so the crimes can be reduced!!!!
Statistically Saudi has much less serious crimes than any part of the world!!!!

Ananda Bulathsinhala Monday, 11 March 2013 03:48 AM

don't we have enough swordsmen here... we could send one as a gift.. I mean the kahawatta killer is one candidate.. but there are many more..

HANGMAN Monday, 11 March 2013 01:42 PM

Shortage of swordmen? Why didn't they ask Sri Lanka?

Fusion Monday, 11 March 2013 03:49 AM

US has multiple authorized execution methods - Lethal Injection is the primary but Firing Squad, Hanging, Electrocution and even Gas Chamber are still valid.

Rohan Nayer Monday, 11 March 2013 03:50 AM

Death sentence is alright in Democratic frame work, not under un civilised Shariya Law

Pol Pot Monday, 11 March 2013 05:39 AM

Good to see that Muslim Law is keeping up with expediency, not blindly following Laws that were valid 2000 years ago.

Ananda Bulathsinhala Monday, 11 March 2013 01:50 PM

Funny.. Some guy who commits a Murder should be sent to a accommodation where he gets free food, Free Water, Free Education if he wants and what ever he wants

you and me the common man has to pay for it?? our tax money is spent to maintain blood thirsty criminals who run there business from inside the jail... whats the point???

Andrew Pitugaland Monday, 11 March 2013 04:04 AM

un-civilised and disgusting

anwer Monday, 11 March 2013 04:15 AM

send mervin silva to them

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Saudi Arabia may stop beheading due to swordsmen shortages

Comments - 35

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