Saudi Arabia beheads Pakistani man convicted of drug trafficking

2012-01-30 20:55:37 GMT+7 (ICT)

RIYADH (BNO NEWS) -- Saudi Arabian authorities have beheaded a Pakistani man who was previously convicted of attempting to smuggle a large amount of heroin into the country, the government said on Monday.

A statement from the Saudi Interior Ministry said the Pakistani national, who was only identified as Salman Khan Taj Mohammad, was beheaded on Monday in the city of Dammam, which serves as the capital of the country's Eastern Province.

Mohammad was arrested when he attempted to smuggle a large quantity of heroin into the Kingdom, according to the Ministry. The statement gave no other details, but said he was previously convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death. His appeals were rejected by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Earlier this month, the United Nations expressed alarm over Saudi Arabia's increasing use of capital punishment. At least 79 people were executed in Saudi Arabia in 2011, a significant increase from the 27 executions reported in 2010. The actual figure is believed to be much higher.

Among those executed last year was Amina bint Abdul Halim bin Salem Nasser who was beheaded in the northern province of al-Jawf in December. She had been convicted of 'witchcraft and sorcery,' charges which are not defined as crimes in Saudi Arabia but have previously been used to prosecute people for exercising their right to freedom of speech or religion.

At least five people have been executed so far this year in Saudi Arabia.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-01-30

Bing, Bang, Boom problem solved. If there were more of this kind of justice, we might not have a drug problem.

Apparently we wouldn't have a witchcraft and sorcery problem either...

I won't comment as I am trying to respect the local customs.

Apparently we wouldn't have a witchcraft and sorcery problem either...

I think the Saudi regime is certainly in need of a new broom to sweep away it's archaic laws and customs.

I think the US is the only western country that still executes prisoners.

I'm all up for it if it is murder or serious drug trafficking. Beheading, shot, lethal injection, electrocution........I don't care as long as it is fast.

I applaud nations that take a strong stance against serious drug trafficking, I just wish my country would do the same. I won't be losing sleep over it

Apparently we wouldn't have a witchcraft and sorcery problem either...

a little research reveals a different story and sheds some more light on that case. here's the beef:

Saudi Newspaper Okaz, dec16, 2011

Abdullah al-Mohsen, chief of the Mutaween (religious police), told Okaz the woman was sentenced according to Sharia law for cheating people and making them think, she could treat illnesses with magic powers, charging them Saudi Riyals 3,000 per session.

case closed, bitching over... Saudi Arabia is not Kansas Dorothy!

Edited January 31, 201214 yr by Naam

Apparently we wouldn't have a witchcraft and sorcery problem either...

I think the Saudi regime is certainly in need of a new broom to sweep away it's archaic laws and customs.

these archaic laws and customs are based on the Qr'an which is based on the Bible (Old Testament). the Saudi regime can't change the scriptures of the Qr'an and neither can the regime in Tel Aviv change what is written in the Bible or Thora.

Apparently we wouldn't have a witchcraft and sorcery problem either...

I think the Saudi regime is certainly in need of a new broom to sweep away it's archaic laws and customs.

these archaic laws and customs are based on the Qr'an which is based on the Bible (Old Testament). the Saudi regime can't change the scriptures of the Qr'an and neither can the regime in Tel Aviv change what is written in the Bible or Thora.

Agreed, the trouble comes when you take scriptures literally, which Islam requires, with the noted exception of Ahmadi Muslims, who are regarded as blasphemers by many orthodox Muslims.

P.S Thanks for your correction on the sorcery case I'm sure we are all relieved that a fake sorcerer got the chop as oppose to a real one.

Apparently we wouldn't have a witchcraft and sorcery problem either...

I think the Saudi regime is certainly in need of a new broom to sweep away it's archaic laws and customs.

these archaic laws and customs are based on the Qr'an which is based on the Bible (Old Testament). the Saudi regime can't change the scriptures of the Qr'an and neither can the regime in Tel Aviv change what is written in the Bible or Thora.

You couldn't resist bringing in a cryptic reference to Israel, could you? The SA approach is based upon their interpretation of the Koran. It is no different than some other religious groups that interpret their teachings to mean something. One could put 100 scholars of the Koran in a room to discuss the issue, and I'm certain there would be multiple interpretations of what the Koran says.

In respect to your reference to the bible, you do realize that Israel which has some devout holy rollers also has some very progressive drug addiction and treatment programs right? Even the people I loathe, the lubavitcher chasidim operate highly regarded facilities. The have one in Los Angeles that is non denominational that accepts the rejects no one else wants and they do have some success. Iran, a nation of militant mullahs has some very progressive and compassionate treatment facilities too. it's all about interpretation.

Edited January 31, 201214 yr by geriatrickid

I don't understand enough about economics to decide my stance on drugs; everyone who wants to take them are already taking them so prohibition is futile, but can a society really survive legalization of harmful drugs? I'd like to think that a free, civil society could tolerate (and afford) to let whoever wanted to take drugs just take them, but this form of socialism would only be possible until the government ran out of other peoples' money!

Beheading as a form of execution in this day and age is a little barbric in my view.

Surely the chopper gets the wrong angle occasional and drives the axe deep into the shoulder blade. Im just trying to imagine the conversation.

Ouch!! that hurt

sorry are you okay?

Surely the chopper gets the wrong angle occasional and drives the axe deep into the shoulder blade. Im just trying to imagine the conversation.

Ouch!! that hurt

sorry are you okay?

They’ve been known to take more than 1 chop to do the job on people convicted of particularly gruesome murders. The body is then displayed on a cross for the rest of the day. One case comes to mind of a Somali who bludgeoned to death multiple co-workers to steal their pay.

I've also witnessed a terrorist executed by gun. It took 4 shots in the back 30 minutes apart before he was declared dead.

I love geriatrickid's posts.

I see some posters are flaming others. I will close the thread. Issue warnings.

Enjoy your holiday.

I hate having use a nuclear device on a threat that should only require a scalpel.

A host of argumentative and off-topic posts and replies to them have been deleted.

This is the final warning to stay on the topic.

Beheading as a form of execution in this day and age is a little barbric in my view.

drinking milk is barbaric in my view. but who the eff cares a sh*t for my view?

Beheading as a form of execution in this day and age is a little barbric in my view.

drinking milk is barbaric in my view. but who the eff cares a sh*t for my view?

Science and reason frees us from a dark world of universal subjectivity and gives us such things as the universal human rights declaration. I suggest using that as a litmus test. Anyway views are only important if they are followed by actions that impact on other human beings.

Beheading as a form of execution in this day and age is a little barbric in my view.

drinking milk is barbaric in my view. but who the eff cares a sh*t for my view?

Science and reason frees us from a dark world of universal subjectivity and gives us such things as the universal human rights declaration. I suggest using that as a litmus test. Anyway views are only important if they are followed by actions that impact on other human beings.

Yes. Views are just views that we are all intitled to but rarely get acted on. However the views of those in positions to act on views are what really counts. Said people who are in such positions [usually of power and influence] often care more about retaining thier positions than acting on thier personal views. Often I guess/or hope that these people have views not that dissimilar to the rest of us. They're just power freaks.

Sorry about the repeated use of the word 'view'.