Pakistani Beheaded in Saudi Arabia for Smuggling Heroin
RIYADH (Press TV) – Saudi Arabia has executed a Pakistani man for smuggling heroin into the Persian Gulf kingdom, the Saudi Interior Ministry says.
Mohammed Sadiq Hanif was detained during his attempt to smuggle "a large amount” of heroin into the country, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to reports, the beheaded Pakistani national had hidden the narcotics in his stomach and his execution was carried out in the eastern town of al-Khobar.
Last month, Saudi authorities executed four Pakistanis charged with smuggling heroin into the country.
Also in November, Saudi Arabia beheaded a Turkish man convicted of drug trafficking. The man known as Ali Agridas was executed in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Agridas had been sentenced to death after being convicted of receiving a "large amount of drugs,” the ministry noted.
The latest beheadings reportedly increase the number of executed people in the kingdom this year above 80, amid concerns raised by the international community.
A United Nations independent expert called in September for an immediate halt to the execution of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.
Christof Heyns, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, said the trials in the kingdom "are by all accounts grossly unfair” and defendants are often not permitted to have a lawyer represent them at court.
He added that coerced confessions were attained under torture.
Drug trafficking carries the death penalty under Saudi Arabia’s law.
Mohammed Sadiq Hanif was detained during his attempt to smuggle "a large amount” of heroin into the country, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to reports, the beheaded Pakistani national had hidden the narcotics in his stomach and his execution was carried out in the eastern town of al-Khobar.
Last month, Saudi authorities executed four Pakistanis charged with smuggling heroin into the country.
Also in November, Saudi Arabia beheaded a Turkish man convicted of drug trafficking. The man known as Ali Agridas was executed in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Agridas had been sentenced to death after being convicted of receiving a "large amount of drugs,” the ministry noted.
The latest beheadings reportedly increase the number of executed people in the kingdom this year above 80, amid concerns raised by the international community.
A United Nations independent expert called in September for an immediate halt to the execution of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.
Christof Heyns, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, said the trials in the kingdom "are by all accounts grossly unfair” and defendants are often not permitted to have a lawyer represent them at court.
He added that coerced confessions were attained under torture.
Drug trafficking carries the death penalty under Saudi Arabia’s law.