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28 March 2024

'Shooter' to replace 'swordsman' in Saudi executions

Published
By Staff

Saudi Arabia executed seven jewelry burglars this week by a firing squad for the first time in the history of the conservative Muslim Gulf Kingdom, paving the way for an end to a long-standing practice of beheading convicts by the sword.

The execution of the seven in the southern town of Abha came amidst growing debate to stop execution by the sword because of what officials described as a shortage of swordsmen and a delay in carrying out the sentence in many cases.

The execution also followed statements by the country’s top scholars that such a method is permissible in Islam since it is quick and not painful.

Newspapers said last week that a joint committee comprising officials from the ministries of interior and health along with the prosecution and prison authorities is studying enforcing executions by firing squads provided they are approved by the Emirs (princes) of the Kingdom’s provinces.

“This method of execution could tackle the problem of swordsmen’s shortages, which often cause a delay in their arrival and consequently in carrying out the execution,” the Saudi Arabic language daily Alyoum said, quoting Justice Ministry officials.

According to the London-based Saudi daily Al-Hayat, the Ministry of Interior carried out the execution of the seven robbers after receiving the go-ahead from the seven-man Supreme Scholars Authority (SSA). It said the execution followed confusion prior to the beheading of a convicted killer, Abdullah Al Shammari, last month.

“Shammari was taken to the execution square but the swordsman arrived nearly six hours later. This created confusion in the execution process and underscored the problem of executioners’ shortages in the Kingdom,” it said.

“It seems that the swordsman profession is on its way to extinction to pave the way for a new profession, which be the sniper or the shooter. This development will bring an end to horrifying tales associated with the swordsman, who as some say, needs to continue executing criminals in order to be in a good mood.”

The paper cited recent comments by swordsman Mohammed Al Beeshi of the western town of Makkah, in which he said he always takes his little son to watch him carrying out executions so he will get used and trained on such things in his childhood.

“Carrying out executions by shooting is permissible as long as those with experience decide that it is as quick as the sword or even quicker,” the paper said, quoting Sheikh Ali Al Hikmi, a member of the SSA, which is appointed by King Abdullah.

“It is established in Islam that an execution is intended to finish off a criminal’s life without causing pain or torturing this criminal.”

Last year, at least 70 people were beheaded in Saudi Arabia, with a population of around 28 million, including eight million foreigners. Official data showed 14 convicted killers and other criminals have also been executed this year.

Most of those executed over the past years were convicted killers, armed robbers, rapists, magicians and major drug smugglers.

Killers sentenced to death in the world’s dominant oil power can be saved from the gallows if pardoned by the victim’s relatives in return for diya (blood money) under Islamic law, which is strictly enforced in the country.