death penalty news October 27, 2004
SAUDI ARABIA: S. Arabia to substitute death with jail for drug traffickers Saudi Arabia's Advisory Council, an appointed parliament without legislatives powers, has concluded discussions on a new anti-narcotics draft legislation that would allow judges to use their discretion to substitute capital punishment with imprisonment for drug traffickers. Under the new 74-article law, courts can now substitute the death sentence meted out to traffickers with prison terms of up to 25 years, 50 lashes and a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals (26,700 dollars) at the maximum. Drug traffickers and dealers are sentenced to die by the sword under the original penal code presently being applied in the kingdom, with executions generally taking place in public. Under Saudi Arabia religious law, capital punishment is imposed for murder, rape, apostasy and armed robbery, in addition to drug trafficking. At least 48 people were executed for drug related crimes in Saudi Arabia in 2002, according to unofficial figures. Even before visitors land on Saudi soil, entry forms state in red letters in English and Arabic that trafficking in drugs is punishable by death. Officials say the harsh punishment and the kingdoms relative isolation from drug sources make drug addiction less widespread than in other countries. (source: DPA / Khaleej Times)
