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Death Penalty: Two More Executed for Drug Trafficking in Saudi Arabia

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #510)
Drug War Issues

Saudi Arabia continued its bid to remain in the top ranks among countries who execute people for drug offenses, beheading two Pakistanis in different parts of the country last week. Along with Iran, Indonesia, and Malaysia, Saudi Arabia is among the most prolific killers of drug law violators.

According to the anti-death penalty group Hands Off Cain, citing Saudi state media sources, Pakistani citizen Bhrour Sadbar Khan was executed November 8 in Riyadh for smuggling heroin into the kingdom. Pakistani citizen Qismata Qul Rasul Khan was executed November 10 in the eastern city of Damman after being convicted of smuggling heroin and hashish into the kingdom.

According to the anti-death penalty group, Saudi Arabia has executed dozens of people each year this decade, with yearly figures ranging from a low of 38 in 2004 and a high of 90 in 2005. So far, 49 people have been executed this year. It is unclear how many were drug offenders.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

Anonymous (not verified)

Guess they don't have a Supreme Court staying executions on the basis that beheading is cruel and unusual punishment in Saudiland...I wonder if the kiddies get to watch and take notes on how to be barbaric. "Hey dad can I try that on our goat?? How about playing hide an go behead somebody??" Is beheading a part of the Madrassa school curriculum?

Fri, 11/16/2007 - 3:46pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

It was only around 400 years ago that hanging drawing and quartering was one of the preferred execution methods in Europe.

Hang by the neck until almost dead, take down, cut a hole in the abdomen pull out "the whole nine yards" of intestines, hack off all of the limbs, behead and post it on a pike for public viewing.

Saudi Arabia is about 400 years behind the times. At least there isn't capital punishment for smoking tobacco anymore (like there was in Turkey).

What they need is something like the protestant reformation (to help break up the stanglehold of their hideous religion) and something like the enlightenment.

It doesn't hurt to be hopeful.

Fri, 11/16/2007 - 6:09pm Permalink
Giordano (not verified)

Examples of gross inhumanity in Saudi Arabia owe their repetition to the Saudi royal family’s influence on local culture, and to its death grip on political power that is financed and secured by oil revenues.  Saudi humanitarian atrocities need addressing from a consumer-based balance of power.  Diesel-based hybrid cars that run on hemp oil would be a start.  Opel  in Germany is introducing a new diesel hybrid to the market.

Without their oil revenue, the UAE would be up for grabs by anyone crazy enough to want some of the worst real estate on the planet.  Truly, some Arabs need to light up and lighten up. Casinos, coffee houses, maybe a Sodom and Gomorrah theme park complete with 72 recyclable virgins; all these things would be an immense improvement over the present Saudi cultural morass.

Giordano

Mon, 11/19/2007 - 3:12am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

The U.S should adopt this policy. Saudi Arabia is messed up in many ways, but this is something they have right. Kill the source, then we have no problem.

Thu, 03/12/2009 - 5:55pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

i lived in Saudi arabia five years. I was a good muslim from Pakistan who come to work in Saudi Arabia ,, but when i live in Saudia Arabia and watch islamic punishments from my eyes, i left Islam.
I have no religion now and thanks GOD i live in Canada now.

Fri, 03/20/2009 - 8:33am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I was reading comment of fellow Pakistani, that he stayed in Saudi Arabia and saw this Islamic law and leave the religion. dear Its up to you whatever faith or religion you chose or leave. But I am also from Pakistan but when I see a rapist or drug trafficker beheaded in Saudi Arabia I don't feel any regret.. why because these are the people who destroy societies and families. Just see America statistics rape , crime, and drugs.. this all ruining their societies and they are not able to overcome due to soft punishment. Its natural when someone see beheading he/she immediately think this is the most cruel act. but truth is punishment should be exemplary for such crimes, which Saudi Govt. is doing.. I just request them to make 200% sure the person is actual culprit and make no difference in implementing law whether culprit is from Royal family.

Sat, 07/04/2009 - 12:12pm Permalink
Umar Eliason (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Drugs within any society is a harm and a dangerous thing.It destroys lives and corrupts society. The only way to ride a nation of Drug problems is through harsh punishment.Islam is perfect and this is why the Saudi people dont deal with the awful effects of drugs and the crime is causes.

Fri, 02/26/2010 - 10:30pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

i lived in Saudi arabia five years. I was a good muslim from Pakistan who come to work in Saudi Arabia ,, but when i live in Saudia Arabia and watch islamic punishments from my eyes, i left Islam.
I have no religion now and thanks GOD i live in Canada now.

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 5:25pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

well, i don't blame them for the execution. People just sit and yap about what saudi arabia does but never thought about what is going on in their own countries. The crime in saudi arabia is not a quarter of the crimes in america and Europe./ Did you guys ever think why??? Thats because of the good muslims that follow the islamic teachings and islamic laws.Although not all muslims follow the teachings, but most do and believe that one day they will be asked of their deeds.Question for all anit-islamic: Would you rather smoke and go through all the risks or not smoke at all and be safe?
Islam is very simple but why make it a complex??????????????????????????????

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 11:49am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I was reading comment of fellow Pakistani, that he stayed in Saudi Arabia and saw this Islamic law and leave the religion. dear Its up to you whatever faith or religion you chose or leave. But I am also from Pakistan but when I see a rapist or drug trafficker beheaded in Saudi Arabia I don't feel any regret.. why because these are the people who destroy societies and families. Just see America statistics rape , crime, and drugs.. this all ruining their societies and they are not able to overcome due to soft punishment. Its natural when someone see beheading he/she immediately think this is the most cruel act. but truth is punishment should be exemplary for such crimes, which Saudi Govt. is doing.. I just request them to make 200% sure the person is actual culprit and make no difference in implementing law whether culprit is from Royal family.

Sat, 07/04/2009 - 11:56am Permalink

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