First '07 beheading in Saudi
2007-01-14 13:01
Riyadh - Saudi Arabia on Sunday beheaded a Saudi man for murdering another Saudi national after an argument, in the first execution reported in the kingdom in 2007, the Saudi interior ministry said.
Saud bin Harbi al-Hajiri was convicted of stabbing to death Faisal bin Fahad al-Muteiri following a dispute, the statement said. He was executed in al-Qatif town, in the kingdom's eastern region. No other details were given.
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed.
The executions are carried out with a sword and in public, as a deterrent measure.
The kingdom beheaded 38 people last year, 83 people in 2005 and 35 people in 2004.
- AP