Five people in Saudi Arabia who committed crimes as minors are still awaiting execution, despite the kingdom’s April announcement that juvenile offenders would no longer face the death penalty, rights groups said Monday.. The statement was provided by the Human Right Commission (HRC) on Sunday. This briefing document outlines the three methods of execution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: 1.   |   [6] Despite having signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Saudi Arabia executed offenders who were juveniles at the time of the crime up until 26 April 2020,[7] when the death penalty against juveniles was abolished by royal decree. So far this year, the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia) are known to have carried out at least 134 executions. 03-Mentally Sick People are also excluded from the penalty of death. Introduction: 1. Anti-death penalty group Reprieve said on Friday that 80% of those on trial in Saudi Arabia for crimes that carry the death penalty and that … [18] He described his first execution in 1998: "The criminal was tied and blindfolded. Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered an end to the death penalty for crimes committed by minors, according to a statement Sunday by a top official. Basic Principles and Sources of Islamic Law The text of … In order for an individual to be convicted in a Saudi sharia law court of adultery, he/she must confess to the act four times in front of the court; otherwise four pious male Muslims or two pious men and two women who witnessed the actual sexual penetration must testify in front of the court. Saudi Arabia is executing people at a record clip this year. Disregarding the 2020 ruling of abolishing death penalty for juveniles, al-Huwaiti faces execution threat following an unfair trial. Since the penalty is so severe, women are protected from unfounded accusations of sexual misconduct". In June 2011, Ruyati binti Satubi, an Indonesian maid, was beheaded for killing her employer's wife, reportedly after years of abuse. This is the most common method of execution in Saudi Arabia because it is specifically called for by Sharia law and is one of the quickest methods of execution with little error percentile. [56] According to Reprieve, two others were also under 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, Mujtaba al-Sweikat and Salman Qureish. Saudi Arabia executed at least 187 people in 2019, according to a tally based on official data, the highest since 1995 when 195 people were put to death. Refunds of donations. Recognition of same-sex relationships Saudi Arabia - Death Penalty. "[38] Mackey explained that "[c]harges of adultery are never made lightly. Saudi Arabia has a criminal justice system based on a hardline and salafi form of Shari'ah reflecting a particular state-sanctioned interpretation of Islam. The executioner uses a sword known as a sulthan to remove the condemned person's head from his or her body at the neck. [36] According to the Islamic sharia law, the burden of proof is on the accuser; and if only one of those witnesses retracted his/her testimony then the accused will be acquitted and the remaining witnesses will be prosecuted for perjury Quran 24:4. [13], A public beheading will typically take place around 9 a.m. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is … Public executions typically take place in the public square of a town or city. This decision came two days after the announcement made by the Saudi government to ban public floggings. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered an end to the death penalty for crimes committed by minors, according to a statement Sunday by a top official. The Saudi judiciary can impose the death penalty according to three categories of criminal offence in Sharia law:[31], A conviction requires proof in one of three ways:[34], Giving an oath is taken particularly seriously in a religious society such as Saudi Arabia's,[34] and a refusal to take an oath will be taken as an admission of guilt resulting in conviction.[35]. Man ‘sentenced to death for atheism’ in Saudi Arabia. [16] For example, in 2009, the Saudi Gazette reported that "an Abha court had sentenced the leader of an armed gang to death and three-day crucifixion (public displaying of the beheaded body) and six other gang members to beheading for their role in jewelry store robberies in Asir. 'Killing in the name of justice': The death penalty in Saudi Arabia 25 August 2015 , Index number: MDE 23/2092/2015 Saudi Arabia remains one of the most prolific executioners in the world. Among the 47 people killed was Shia Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Rape, murder, apostasy, sedition, sorcery, armed robbery, adultery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death in Saudi Arabia [and by Daesh]. [43], On 2 January 2016, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia carried out a mass execution of 47 imprisoned civilians convicted for terrorism in 12 different provinces. The convicted person is walked to a court yard near the court-house and kneels in front of the executioner. A TEENAGER in Saudi Arabia is facing the death penalty because authorities say he was the ringleader of a group of kids during the Arab Spring protests when he … In Saudi Arabia, the death penalty can only be enforced by order of King Salman or his authorized representative. Beheadings are the most common execution method in Saudi Arabia, but some executions also carried out by firing squad. The execution method for adultery committed by married men and women is stoning (see Capital offences). According to figures by Amnesty International, in 2010 at least 27 migrant workers were executed and, as of January 2013[update], more than 45 foreign maids were on death row awaiting execution. Ali al-Nimr and Dawoud al-Marhoon were both arrested at the age of 17 in 2012 during Arab Spring protests in the Eastern Province, tortured, forced to confess, and sentenced to decapitation in 2014 and 2015. But court filings show some executed men protested their innocence", "Saudi Arabia Executes 37 in One Day for Terrorism", "Saudi Arabia carries out 'chilling' mass execution of 37 people for 'terrorism offences, "Saudi Arabia: Mass Execution of 37 Men — Most from Shia Community, Convicted in Unfair Trials", "Saudi Arabia executes 37 citizens over alleged terrorism offences", "Saudi Arabia's callous disregard for fundamental human rights of its citizens", "Saudi executions: Dozens killed included some arrested as juveniles", "Saudi Arabia: 37 put to death in shocking execution spree", "Saudi Arabia executed them after questionable trials. - IslamQA", "Fate of another royal found guilty of adultery", "Saudi Arabia execution of 'sorcery' woman condemned", "Saudi man executed for 'witchcraft and sorcery, "Execution Central: Saudi Arabia's Bloody Chop-Chop Square", "Saudi Arabia executes 19 in one half of August in disturbing surge of beheadings", "Saudi Arabia Carries Out Largest Mass Execution Since 1980 – Eurasia Review", Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Saudi Arabia executes top Shia cleric, "Mass Execution Is Part Of Saudi Arabia's Long History Of Horrors", "Saudi Arabia Has Executed 37 People For Terrorism-Related Crimes", "Saudi Arabia is carrying out a second oppressive mass slaughter in the era of King Salman, including children, protestors, and activists", "Exclusive: Saudi Arabia said they confessed. People may be convicted solely on the basis of “confessions” obtained under torture, other ill-treatment or deception. A woman commits adultery in Saudi Arabia, she will not be penalized unless her child becomes two years old. [38] During a human rights dialogue with European jurists that took place several years before 1987, a Saudi delegate acknowledged that it is difficult to have a person convicted of adultery. beheading and stoning. The death penalty in Saudi Arabia is used in violation of international human rights law and standards. The country performed at least 158 executions in 2015,[1] at least 154 in 2016,[2] at least 146 in 2017,[3] at least 149 in 2018,[4] with possibly 184 executed in 2019. Non-lethal crimes including “adultery”, armed robbery, “apostasy”, drug-related offences, rape, “witchcraft” and “sorcery” are punishable by death. Saudi Arabia Condemned for Mass Execution of 37 People, Including Juveniles, After Unfair Trials. You can use this tool to change your cookie settings. [45] The execution was the largest carried out in the kingdom since 1980. A person who … A Saudi woman, Amina bin Salem Nasser,[40] was executed for being convicted of practicing sorcery and witchcraft in December 2011 in the northern province of Jawf, and a Sudanese man (Abdul Hamid Bin Hussain Bin Moustafa al-Fakki) was executed in a car park in Medina for the same reason in September 20, 2011. The death penalty in Saudi Arabia is used in violation of international human rights law and standards. [18] Once an execution goes ahead, his only conversation with the prisoner is to tell him or her to recite the Muslim declaration of belief, the Shahada. In 2018, four months after al-Huwaiti’s trial at the criminal court in Tabuk began, Saudi Arabia introduced the Juvenile Law, which sets a … [55] One of the thirty-two, Abdul Kareem Al Hawaj, was 16 years old at the time of his alleged crime; executions for crimes committed by those under 18 are violations of international law. The execution drew international condemnation of the government's practises,[65] and led Sri Lanka to recall its ambassador. It is said that almost 400 people are executed in Saudi Arabia every year. 102 people executed between January and June 2015. According to the decision, that was part of the royal decree, stops death penalty minors in Saudi Arabia from completing their sentence. The majority of death sentences are carried out in … [38], Princess Misha'al was shot several times in the head for adultery in 1977. Your choice regarding cookies on this site [76][77], Media related to Death penalty in Saudi Arabia at Wikimedia Commons, BBC News, "Pleas for condemned Saudi 'witch'", 14 February 2008, "Top Arab Spring Cleric Among 47 Executed by Saudi Arabia", "Saudi Arabia ends 2015 with one final execution", "The Death Penalty in 2017: Facts and Figures", "Saudi Arabia has carried out 800 executions since 2015, says rights group", "IBAHRI welcomes Saudi Arabia's move towards total abolition of the death penalty", "Saudi Arabia executes 37 people in a single day – including three juveniles", "Saudi Arabia scraps execution for those who committed crimes as minors: Commission", "Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to end death penalty for drug crimes", "Saudi Arabia, a world leader in executions, weighs ending capital punishment for drug crimes", "Saudis may carry out executions by firing squad: reports", "Number of Beheadings in Saudi Arabia Rises by 70%", "DOCUMENT - SAUDI ARABIA: AN UPSURGE IN PUBLIC EXECUTIONS", "Justice By The Sword: Saudi Arabia's Embrace Of The Death Penalty", "Man 'sentenced to death for atheism' in Saudi Arabia", "State-Sponsored Homophobia: A World Survey of Laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition of same-sex love", "Saudi Arabia's 'Anti-Witchcraft Unit' breaks another spell", "The Deadth Penalty In Traditional Islamic law And As Interpreted In Saudi Arabia And Nigeria", "Can you provide me with some details concerning the punishment for committing adultery? On July 28, 2020, a Saudi court sentenced Mohamad al-Bokari, a Yemeni blogger, to 10 months in prison, a fine of 10,000 riyals ($2,600) and deportation for a Twitter post supporting equal rights for people in same sex relationships. At least 16 “crimes” can result in a death sentence in Saudi Arabia—and more than a third wouldn’t even get you jail time in the U.S. On that list: sorcery and witchcraft. A Perverse and Ominous Enterprise: the Death Penalty and Illegal Executions in Saudi Arabia A. [60][61] A video of the execution, posted online, drew extensive criticism. At least 2,208 people executed between January 1985 and June 2015. The alleged crimes were committed when they were children, between ages 14 and 17. In this Oct. 14, 2019 file photo, Saudi Arabia's King Salman attends the official welcome ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In some cases, the relatives of those on death row are not notified of the executions in advance and in other cases, they are not returned the body. 4 That is not to say that no European has ever faced the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to continue. [49][52] The executions were carried out by beheading,[51][53] and two of the bodies were publicly hung from a pole. capital crimes in Saudi Arabia. If the conviction was established through the testimony of four witnesses, the witnesses must initiate the stoning, and failure to do so results in the execution being stayed. On January 1, 2002, 'Ali bin Hittan bin Sa'id, Muhammad bin Suleyman bin Muhammad and Muhammad bin Khalil bin 'Abdullah, all Saudi Arabian nationals, were executed in Abha, Asir province, possibly solely for their sexual orientation. Dozens of Asians and Africans, after convictions for murder, have been executed by public beheadings in Saudi Arabia.32 However, no European nor American33 has ever been executed under Saudi law. The use of public beheading as the methods of capital punishment and the number of executions have attracted strong international criticism. This article was amended on 25 November 2020 to clarify that of the young men at risk of execution in Saudi Arabia, four have been sentenced to death… [citation needed] Professional executioners have beheaded as many as 10 people in a single day in time of influxes of crime.[15]. [46], On 23 April 2019, the Saudi Interior Ministry stated that the Kingdom carried out a mass execution of 37 imprisoned civilians[47] who had been convicted, mostly on the basis of confessions obtained under torture or written by the accused's torturers,[48][49] for terrorism-related allegations in 6 provinces in the country. The criminal justice system waits until the family makes a decision on whether the family of the victim will accept blood money[30] or if the family of the victim will choose to have the murderer executed, or to completely forgive the perpetrator. If a murderer pays a family of the victim blood money, and the family approves of the choice, the murderer will not be executed. The kingdom’s attorney general sought the death penalty for him.