[Deathpenalty]death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 1


SAUDI ARABIA:

Saudi Arabia Beheads Pakistani, Iraqi Men


2 men, a Pakistani and an Iraqi, were beheaded Saturday for smuggling
drugs into Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced.

The Pakistani, Mohammed Amin Abdullah Jan, was convicted of smuggling an
undisclosed amount of heroin into the kingdom and was beheaded in the Red
Sea port city of Jiddah, the ministry statement said.

Mattar bin Hussein bin Bakhit al-Khazaali, an Iraqi, was convicted of
smuggling hashish into the kingdom and was beheaded in the northern town
of Arar, close to the Iraqi border, according to the ministry.

Al-Khazaali is the 2nd Iraqi to be executed in this border town in the
past 10 days. Qaied bin Kamal bin Mohammed al-Zayadi, an Iraqi, was
convicted of smuggling an undisclosed quantity of hashish into the kingdom
and was beheaded in Arar on Dec. 22.

At least 35 people were beheaded in the kingdom in 2004 compared with 52
people in 2003, most of whom were convicted of drug smuggling.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people
convicted of drug trafficking, murder, rape and armed robbery can be
executed. Beheadings are carried out with a sword in public.

(source: Associated Press)