The two men were caught smuggling heroin. PHOTO: REUTERS
Abrar Hussein Nizar Hussein was executed in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after being convicted of trying to smuggle in heroin hidden in his stomach, the ministry said in a statement carried by SPA state news agency.
Zahid Khan Barakat was beheaded in Qatif, in Eastern Province, over a similar charge, a separate statement said.
Last year, Saudi Arabia executed 78 people, according to an AFP count.
In 2012, Saudi Arabia carried out 76 executions, according to a tally based on official figures. Rights group Amnesty International put 2012's figure at 79.
Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under the oil-rich nation's strict version of Islamic Sharia law.
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People who are being critical of Saudi Arabia needs to revisit our heritage. We have a common history, and we should learn their good things and avoid their bad. In childhood, when we made mistakes, our parents always scolded us and taught us to mend our ways. But that doesn't mean our parents are always correct, but 9 out of 10 times they are. Now, it is true that Saudi Arabian law is lenient towards their own and European. It is true that they won't bother to investigate if a Pakistani or Bangladeshi gets mugged by Somali or Ethiopian gangs. But they would show no mercy if anyone is accused of Rape or Drug peddling, even Arabs have been punished. We don't have any Somali and Ethiopian gangs in Pak, we don't need to worry about those things. But we do have many of our own who indulge in Rape and Murder. MY POINT : Use Saudi type Law where its needed. We can easily have mix of laws where Saudi-Pakistani law are combined for maximum effect. For example : Death by beheading for Rape and Muder (Saudi) but Full freedom for Women to drive (Pakistani).
@Lala Gee:
You wrote:
You are living in self-illusion. It’s actually opposite. I haven’t heard of any Indian beheaded in SA or UAE for that matter. All the time Indian govt. managed to save them. Where did you get this 20:5:10 ration from?
Additionally, all the Indian trolls here should respectfully note that such self-debasement shall only make me look gorgeous and fabulous in contrast.
The usual ratios of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi executions are around 20:5:15 over the past few decades. It should be highly obvious that Pakistanis are rarely punished by their Arab brothers, except in the most extreme cases. As far as I have seen, Arabs hold Pakistanis in high esteem and honor. Indian trolls can be jealous but, you can't fool the world to be blind to the Mount Everest of your sins perpetrated against the humanity especially in Kashmir and in particular at the Siachen glacier. There's no point in fighting authentic facts backed by excellent logic.
Saudi Arabia is a "brotherly country". So we should never complain, from one "brother to another".
Wonder why a majority of drug smugglers and traffickers in Saudi Arabia are from the Land of the Pure ? Only the poor carrier is caught and executed, why are the masterminds who trap and exploit the poor not caught and exposed ?
@Lala Gee: Lol! take some days off, the joke might eventually come to you
@Imran: A Sudanese woman snatched the purse from my aunt during hajj. Unfortunately a lot of Africans are found involved in crimes quite like back home they have the lifestyle of crimes in places like Liyari. Facts are facts
@Asher Jamil: and then they have the guts to descend on our country to save their "friends" from our country's laws
@Raj - USA: Yes I remember the case of some whites perhaps nurses in an Arab country found guilty of killing their patients yet they were released within a month or two and sent like VIPs to their white country from these same Arabs
@Gratgy:
"@Lala Gee: Both making fun of you."
By disgracing your own self? Fantastic way of Indians making fun!
@Kamil: "Ever heard of Saudis beheading or even lashing a European, American, or any other gora??"
This is the reason they all look the other way when Saudis do these sorts of barbaric acts. Singapore awarded public lashing sentence to one American youth in the 90's for deliberately damaging a Mercedes Benz car for fun. US made very strong protest. Many Congressmen and Senators condemned it in the strongest possible terms and issued severe warnings to Singapore. However, Singapore ignored all warnings and carried out the sentence. I support US protecting the interests of US citizens but would also like US to warn Saudis severely on these cruel beheadings.
@Lala Gee: They both are slapping you and fighting over why it was not strong enough !
Saudi "brothers" behead ordinary Pakistanis and save corrupt Pakistani "leaders" from punishment in Pakistan. What "brothers". Almighty please save us from such "brothers"
Ever heard of Saudis beheading or even lashing a European, American, or any other gora??
@Lala Gee: Both making fun of you.
Saudi Arabia is a sea of ignorance.
@Saleem:
Are you sure that the guy at the bank was not a foreign worker?
Rex Minor
@Naveed Alam Khattak:
How could one recognise the colour in night darkness; may be the guy was wearing a niqab?
Rex Minor
@Lala Gee: You are hilllarious Lala Gee! It's "Fore fathers" not "Four fathers". Where did you get that from? Although I don't agree 100% with you hypothesis!
I lived and worked in Saudi for two years. They are extremely corrupt. In two different banks while counting my money the saudi tellers slipped away a 100 dollar bill. I had to keep quiet as it is a Pakistani's word against that of a Saudi. I have never had such a bad experience in Pakistan, Europe or the U.S.A.
@Gratgy:
"@LalaGeeX: Well, Arabs are one of our four fathers."
"Who are the other three?"
Indian Vs. Indian. Really enjoying.
I doubt they will be so harsh on a local Saudi , let alone a white.....
Instead of citing low crime rates in SA to make their system a "role model", why don't we look at the Scandinavian countries and see how they have manged to keep the same problems under control (to a better extent too)? Oh, right. I forgot. Goray sey toh kuch seekh hee nahin saktay.
The Islamic hadood or punishments cannot and should not be applied without having the rest of the system in place that would be needed to support these punishments. Without having security, welfare, justice and economic policies that create a well balanced society that early Islamic history is known for, it will be unfair to use these types of punishments. When there was a famine in Hazrat Umar's rule he temporarily suspended the punishment for theft because as a statesman his government was no longer able to provide food for everyone of its citizens. So if someone stole because their family was hungry, how could he justify cutting off their hand(s). Similarly with the current system of utter chaos in Pakistan as far as justice and equality is concerned it would be premature to start demanding for these punishments. Remember, Islamic system is just like any other system ... a complete way of life. It either gets applied in its totality or it fails. You cannot pick and chose only the parts of the system that seem suitable for you.
Congratulations
Well, Arabs are one of our four fathers. We cannot argue with their law. There must be a solid reason why they believe in capital punishment.
@Asher Jamil: Dear Sir I have been living in eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A very peace ful area. Only road accidents are frequent. Crime rate is almost negligible. regards
Pakistan first. defeated others.
Are there any figures available on local drug users in the Kingdom? How many got arrested or punished in any fashion in 2013?Surely these poor fools didn't risk their lives to serve fellow Pakistanis?
And Pakistanis complain about Afghans smuggling drugs into Pakistan.
Practice what you preach.
@Naveed Alam Khattak: This is plain racist. They may have another thing common other than color... poverty, crime, immigrant, lack of education.
Well, it had to start from someone. I only hope it's not like Yemen immigrant smugling where they put poor Pakis under the sword due to their lack of know-how or voice from their Homeland who would love to add their Ex-Pat dollars to national treasury if they survive the sword. Not just that, our govt will take all credit for their success. Lesson: Shameless Leaders & Ignorant masses is what we have. Pak citizen are no more than Lambs at the Mercy of Butcher House management. Now think of that again!
we can not eliminate crime because money matter everything in Pakistan...recently son of biggest land grabber getting protocol on the motor way
only Pakistani, Indian & Bangladeshi are behead..... Never heard of Saudis, Britsh or Americans.......!!!!!
Crime rate in Saudi Arabia is very high. Saudi Government and media doesn't show the real news. Only expatriates who are involved in crimes are being punished and there Saudi people always get away with these crimes.