Saudi Arabia: After a two-year pause, Saudi Arabia saw a spate in beheadings as it executed 12 people in 10 days for drug offences. Most of these beheadings were carried out by a sword, said a right organisation. The sudden rise in executions have come despite Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman previously vowing to reduce harsh punishments and curtail death sentences, especially for non-violent crimes.
Also Read: Rasna founder Areez Khambatta passes away at 85
The defendants included three Pakistanis, four Syrians, two Jordanians and three Saudis. They were sentenced to death after being imprisoned on non-violent drug charges. This brings the total number of people executed this year to at least 132, exceeding those of 2020 and 2021 combined, reports said.
Mohammed bin Salman vowed to minimise capital punishment
In 2018, Mohammed bin Salman had said that his administration had tried to “minimise” capital punishment and that only those people were subject to capital punishment who were found guilty of murder or manslaughter.
“His Majesty, the King, doesn’t wake up and just sign whatever he wants to sign. He works by the law, by the book,” he had said.
Also Read: Over 162 killed in Indonesia earthquake, death toll may rise with time
Khashoggi killed in 2018
After Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in 2018 in the most brutal manner in Saudi consulate in Istanbul in Turkey, Saudi Arabia showed signs of softening on non-violent crime and proposed to change the law to end the death penalty. Khashoggi was killed and dismembered allegedly by a Saudi hit squad.
Maya Foa, director of rights organisation Reprieve, said: “Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly touted his vision of progress, committing to reducing executions and ending the death penalty for drug offences. But as a bloody year of executions draws to a close, the Saudi authorities have begun executing drug offenders again, in large numbers and in secret.”
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
