7 Men Executed In Public By Saudi Arabia
charged with looting, theft and
armed robbery.
The men were arrested in 2006 jewelry-stealing ring. One man,
Nasser al-Qahtani, told the Associated Press attested to inhumane treatment following his arrest. He claimed that he was tortured for a confession, not
appointed a lawyer, and only
appeared before a judge three times
during the lengthy trial. He also
claimed that his torture marks were
ignored in court.
According to reports, he was 15
years old at the time of his arrest.
Qahtani and the other six men were
originally sentenced to death by
firing squad and crucifixion in
2009. Human rights activist group Human Rights Watch appealed to the country’s King Abdullah on March 4
to not execute the men, stating that
there was “strong evidence” of an
unfair trial.
The kingdom however, follows strict
Islamic laws which state that people
convicted of murder, raped or armed robbery can be executed.
Saudi Arabia has already executed 23 people this year.
These seven men were killed by
three men with swords in the
southern city Abha; the region is
notoriously targeted with
discrimination.
Saudi media reports that the
government is considering doing
away with public beheading and
seeking firing squads as an alternative. Lethal injections have also been reported as an option. Eric Goldstein, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, demands a ceasing of child executions altogether.
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