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Amnesty condemns Saudi executions 'Surge in unfair' Saudi beheading
(about 8 hours later)
Executions in Saudi Arabia are being carried at an average rate of more than two a week, according to a new report by Amnesty International. A human rights group says executions are surging in Saudi Arabia, and those most likely to face death by the sword are migrant workers and poor Saudis.
The human rights group says the rate of executions in the Kingdom has increased markedly in recent years. Amnesty International says these groups are executed disproportionately and indiscriminately because they are unable to use the "blood money" system.
In their report, they say foreign nationals bear the brunt of executions. Foreigners and some nationals lack family and other ties that save rich or well-connected citizens, Amnesty says.
Saudi Arabia is also one of the few remaining countries to execute people for crimes they committed while under the age of 18. The human rights group reiterated its demand for a moratorium on executions.
On Friday in downtown Riyadh the crowds gather at Justice Square, outside the grand mosque. It is a place Westerners have dubbed "Chop Chop Square". Amnesty's report - Affront to justice: Death penalty in Saudi Arabia - says there has been a sharp increase in executions in the last two years in the conservative Muslim kingdom.
On the stage, awaiting the blade of the scimitar, stands the condemned. The death penalty in Saudi Arabia is beheading under the law of the sharia. There were 158 recorded executions in 2007 and the figure between January and August 2008 stood at 71.
'Secret trials' The state does not provide official statistics but Amnesty said it had recorded at least 1,695 executions between 1985 and May 2008.
Although the Kingdom refuses to provide official statistics on how many people it kills each year, Amnesty International has recorded at least 1,695 executions between 1985 and May 2008. Of these, 830 were foreign nationals - a highly disproportionate figure since foreigners make up about one-quarter of the country's population.
Of these, 830 were foreign nationals - a highly disproportionate figure since foreigners only make up about a quarter of the country's population. In some cases, execution is followed by crucifixion, Amnesty says in its report.
The rate of execution has increased, says the charity in its report "Affront to justice: Death penalty in Saudi Arabia", following an extension of the death penalty to crimes for drugs offences and corruption. Saudi officials were not immediately available to comment. They routinely defend beheadings as a quick and clean form of execution sanctioned by the Islamic faith.
According to the report, the trials are often held secretly, foreigners would be unable to understand the proceedings because routinely they are denied access to a lawyer and, in some cases, they have no idea they have even been convicted. Pardons granted
Amnesty's report says capital trials are often held secretly and non-Arabic speaking foreign nationals are unable to understand proceedings because they are routinely denied access to a lawyer.
In some cases, Amnesty says, they have no idea they have even been convicted.
Six Somalis beheaded this year were only told they were to be killed on the morning of their execution.Six Somalis beheaded this year were only told they were to be killed on the morning of their execution.
Confessions are usually extracted through torture, ranging from cigarette burns, to electric shocks, nail-pulling, beatings and threats to family members, Amnesty says. Amnesty also alleges that confessions are extracted through torture, ranging from cigarette burns, to electric shocks, nail-pulling, beatings and threats to family members.
It adds that, while pardons are sometimes granted, Saudi nationals are eight times more likely to escape execution through the payment of a diya or "blood money". After conviction, the legal system allows victim's families to forgive murderers, often after the payment of diya, or "blood money".
While pardons are sometimes granted, Saudi nationals are eight times more likely to escape execution than foreigners through this system.
Correspondents say Saudi nationals who are executed often come from remote tribal areas.