Pubdate: Sun, 02 Jan 2005
Source: Mirror, The (UK)
Copyright: 2005 The Mirror
Contact:  http://www.mirror.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1161
Author: Stephen Hayward

SAUDIS BEHEAD 2 DRUG SMUGGLERS

TWO drug smugglers were beheaded in Saudi Arabia yesterday despite protests 
from Western governments and human rights groups.

The New Year's Day executions were carried out in public by sword of the 
men, who had been found guilty of smuggling heroin and cannabis into the 
country.

Pakistani Mohammed Amin Abdullah Jan was beheaded in Jeddah and Mattar bin 
Hussein bin Bakhit al-Khazaali, an Iraqi, in the northern town of Arar, 
close to the Iraqi border.

Saudi Arabia, which follows strict Islamic law, put 35 people to death last 
year, and at least 52 the year before.

Western governments have condemned Saudi Arabia's justice system amid 
claims of torture and forced confessions. The Human Rights Watch pressure 
group says the death penalty should be suspended until the legal system is 
reformed.

But a Saudi Arabian government spokesman said: "We apply the laws of God 
and don't pay attention to whoever says anything about that."

And Saudi Arabia's chief executioner Mohammed Saad al-Beshi has spoken of 
the pride he takes from his beheadings.
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