"Salman Khan Taj Mohammed, a Pakistani... was arrested as he was caught smuggling a large amount of heroin" into the country, the ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA.
He was interrogated and convicted of drug smuggling, a crime punishable by death according to the kingdom's strict version of Islamic law).
The man was beheaded in Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia, SPA reported, bringing to five the number of Saudi executions carried out so far in 2012.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights voiced alarm this month at the almost threefold increase in executions in Saudi Arabia last year.
Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of offences, including rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking.
At least 76 death row inmates were executed in 2011, according to an AFP count, while Amnesty International has said the kingdom executed 79 people last year.
In 2010, 27 people were executed, according to the UN, citing a report by Human Rights Watch.
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This practice of beheading, where no murder had been committed seems particularly barbaric. At the same time, you see, in certain middle eastern countries, photos of large crowds of men in the streets, armed with semi-automatic weapons.
It seems to me that punishments such as this, or such as caning, should be addressed by the United Nations council for Human Rights, or some other office of the United Nations.
@Sudhir, Because all muslims are the children of allah and we ummah should not kill each other and i dont know why ur so bothered abt a pakistani on a pak news website...pls go feed the 300 million street children
@Aqeel Ahmed: why
@BS.Detecter: You must be living in a fairy tale world of your own!!!! Most of the menial work in Saudi Arabia from south Asia are done by muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, in that order. Indians in Saudi and the middle east are either trained workers, professionals or merchants and business owners. You will never see an Indian, who is not Muslim, ever being beheaded in the middle east.
they could hv let gone the poor chap and taken couple of hindus/indians/pak hindus to the gallows instead...the guy shud hv been left with a hefty fine
@ all people asking government to protect that pakistani.
I believe there is nothing wrong with the Law. The law is correct but it should be practiced on everyone found guilty. Yes i agree that a saudi caught in the same act would not be given death penalty. But that doesn't make this Pakistani free of his crime.
In Pakistan even if a thief is given few years imprisonment, when he becomes free, he will do a bigger robbery. If islamic law was practiced and his one hand was cut, i am sure he would not have think about doing robbery again.
@Akthar: I hope that was a joke. My dad is a vice president of a major holding company and earns around 70 K + Riyal. Not that i am gloating but just stating a fact
@Ishrat Salim: Saudi Arabia does not have a low crime rate. It's just that the foreigners get punished while the locals walk scot free. Most of the crimes do not get reported because of the clampdown on the media (if you call their newspapers media).
He was hanged because of Pakistani origin. What about the other Saudi people who are agents and consumers of the drugs. Is it not the responsibility of Saudi Arabia to inform Pakistan Government before executing him.
@Akthar: Dude you dont know anything. Wise men say don't speak on matters of which you dont have full grasp on.
Almost all of the street cleaners and garbage collectors here in Saudi are Indians and Bangladeshis.
No doubt Pakistani labour class here working in industries but along there is huge quantity of Educated Pakistanis working as top tier jobs like my friend's father is GM of Honda Saudi Arabia.
All the south asians recieve similar treatment. Extra special hospitality treatment is reserved for Westerners only and some part of it to other arabs
Its a known fact. The Saudi
s hate us. Infact, they have more respect for Indians as many Indians also go to Saudi for Software & other hitech jobs, but Pakis take up blue colour jobs. I think since they give lots of Aid, Saudis have a very cheap opinion about pakis.Our high commission should take up this issue immediately.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will never speak up for people being killed by US and its allies as collateral in WoT.
The justice system in Saudi Arabia is not fair as it does not treat fairly when local Saudi citizens are involved. Poor fellow Pakistanis who have helped Saudi Arabia built their country under extreme weather conditions and with no labour rights and justice system really suffers when they encounter hate by Saudies over Indians and other nations.
Did this man get a fair trial. i just cant understand why the corropt rulers of Suadi Arabia are not beheaded, like the recent prince caught of killing his servant and was a homosexual.
Don't worry Saudis are coming out of 6th century soon...............for example now, women can watch matches in the stadium...and be able to drive, its coming thought its quite slow, ha
Muslims don't kill Muslims... This should be the Universal law...
Hats off (or heads off ?) to Saudi Arabia. That is exactly how you deal with drug dealers and other low lifes. His being a Pakistani is of no importance once he started committing criminal acts.
You clearly know the consequences of doing drug trade/smuggling in Saudi Arabia yet still carry out the action.
He had it coming. Thats all i can say
It is disturbing to note that lots of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis get beheaded in Saudi Arabia. Even the Indians beheaded there are predominantly Muslims. Most of those executed there are Muslims from Third World countries.
I am sure if this man was a Briton or American, their embassies would apply so much of pressure that some clause in Islamic law would be found to enable them to pay a fine, spend some time in jail and walk quietly free. So much for the Ummah!