Pubdate: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 Source: Newsday (NY) Copyright: 2003 Newsday Inc. Contact: http://www.newsday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/308 SAUDI ARABIA BEHEADS MARIJUANA SMUGGLER RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- A Saudi drug trafficker was beheaded Sunday, a Ministry of Interior statement said. Dhaher bin Thamer al-Shimry was convicted of smuggling marijuana into the kingdom, the statement said. Al-Shimry was beheaded in the eastern province of Hafr al-Baten, bringing the number of beheadings in the kingdom this year to 41, most of them drug traffickers. At least 49 people were beheaded last year. This conservative country follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of drug trafficking, murder, rape and armed robbery are executed. Beheadings are carried out with a sword in public. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek