Saudi policemen — File Photo
RIYADH: Saudi authorities on Sunday beheaded a Pakistani in the Muslim holy city of Mecca for stabbing to death a compatriot, the interior ministry said. Altaf Hussein Hati was found guilty of stabbing a man in the throat and leaving him to bleed to death, the ministry said in a statement carried by SPA state news agency.
His beheading brings to 74 the number of people executed so far this year in the conservative kingdom, where 79 were put to death in 2011, according to Amnesty International.
Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under the sharia, or Islamic law.
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Comments (57) Closed
raja hindustani
Dec 09, 2012 12:12pm
cruel...
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Sympathy!
Dec 09, 2012 12:33pm
What else do you expect!
KSA only applies harsh punishments to non-saudis and non-influential (Western or Other)
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Mian Mithu
Dec 11, 2012 09:44am
@ Raj
You don't find crime in North Korea either.
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Mian Mithu
Dec 11, 2012 09:48am
I believe a Pakistani was recently executed for his crimes in a neighbouring country. The response was muted.
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Yazi
Dec 11, 2012 05:43am
The real question people should ask is how cohernt the justice process was. Was he given an apportunity to defend himself ? Was he provided with the lawyer? Did he actually go through the due process of the law? Was the DNA testing done. Was it a first or second degree murder? Can it be considered a man slaughter ? Can it be the case of self defence? Justice is never black and white as the way it is in KSA, and the most ignorant people view it as cause and effect relationship and draw a conclusion. When the justice is not the same for a rich and rulling class of Saudis, then how justice is done no matter even if the person has committed a murder. Think people/
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ishrat salim
Dec 09, 2012 01:03pm
Pakistan learn....this is why crime rate is down in KSA......dispensation of justice should be based on sharia law, but vested interest will never let this to happen, otherwise most of people will be without wrist on account of cheating / robbery etc;
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AHA
Dec 11, 2012 02:23am
@Waseem,
What if there was a miscarriage of justice.
Death is irreversible.
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Zeeshan
Dec 13, 2012 09:56am
This is so encouraging that at least there is a single country on Gods earth that follows at least some sharia laws besides all odds and propaganda of WEST and so called "Human Rights" activists . We MUST appreciate it and encourage the process. as Allah says in the Holy Quran:
""O you who believe! retaliation(Qassas) is prescribed for you in the matter of the slain; the free for the free, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female; but if any remission is made to any one by his (aggrieved) brother, then (the demand for the bloodwit) should be made according to usage, and payment should be made to him in a good man
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Bidharmi
Dec 11, 2012 03:45pm
The original muslims punishing lowly converts of Pakistan, Sudan etc.
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Ali
Dec 09, 2012 06:32pm
Saudi Arabia has one of the the lowest murder rate in the world. Millions of people go in & out of the country, for job, Umra, Haj, business. Saudi Arabia ranks 8th, other 7 countries are welfare states like Iceland, with small & educated population.
One who kills your brother or sister or mom or father does not deserve to live, become a burden on your taxes.
When a person is witness to consequences of killing a human being, would think twice when killing someone out rage, jealousy, greed.
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Arif
Dec 09, 2012 01:07pm
This is called justice, Why some people have soft corner for criminal instead of victim.
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Anony
Dec 11, 2012 05:21pm
and how is it obvious that its not working? Is it just cuz you said so?
Look at the barbarian in yourself before pointing fingers.
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Rehman
Dec 09, 2012 12:53pm
Azhar bhai, its a lesson for others, if they do the crime they will end up this way. Good Job Saudi Arabia all gulity people should get their punishment , EYE FOR AN EYE.
Faiz (Pakistani)
USA
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Sanity Check
Dec 11, 2012 07:35am
What on earth is Hidaya? Is it an English word?
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Poison
Dec 09, 2012 01:11pm
Well done , should taste own medicine once a while
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akbari
Dec 09, 2012 01:32pm
Yes Islamic Shariah. But are you ready to practice all the aspects of Shariah. Saudi Arabia does not. It is not only Flogging or beheading in Islamic Shariah. There are also Human Right Teachings, Characters, Respecting Others etc.
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Sanity Check
Dec 11, 2012 07:39am
Ah, our obsession with Sharia law!
We can't even agree on definition of a Muslim...then who implements these laws, who decides, what if definitions of two sects differ?
Time to wake up from the dream and live in reality....
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Anony
Dec 11, 2012 05:12pm
Hidaya is direction. Maybe you don't need to post here my friend.
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Amir
Dec 09, 2012 12:51pm
Are Islamic laws meant for everybody or the elite class is exempt from it and what about the corporate compounds in Saudi Arabia do they apply Islamic laws there as well. The way the royal kingdom operates with kings and their successors is that Islamic? Treating human being based on their color of skin and country of origin is Islamic? I am positive these are all unIslamic practices but this is way of life in Saudi Arabia. Is some international Islamic organization is going to give Fatwa that Saudi Arabia needs to be Islamic not for only poor people from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka but for everybody including the King and the royal family (they them selves are not Islamic according to my little knowledge because I never read about kings and royal families in Islamic history)
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Azhar uddin
Dec 09, 2012 12:43pm
Even execution is done in most primitive way. A lethal injection would have achieved same result.Why show of this barbaritty ? I bet there were some spectators too.
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Anony
Dec 11, 2012 05:13pm
obsession with sharia?
Maybe we can't agree on definition of a muslims 'because' of lack of sharia.
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Anony
Dec 11, 2012 05:14pm
Agreed.
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Anony
Dec 11, 2012 05:17pm
Brother Javed, I don't think u can compare killings of the innocent by the barbaric taleban with this beheading in KSA. If a person commits murder, AND if its proven without a doubt, he should definitely go through what the victim and his family went through.
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Anony
Dec 11, 2012 05:19pm
I totally agree.
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Raj
Dec 10, 2012 06:34pm
It is not going to work as the # of beheading is 74 and every year they are beheading 80 t0 100 people. If people learnt a lesson then they should have learnt after first beheading. The lesson of the story is crime always prevails everywhere wheather you have saria laws or not. You wont find crime free country like Switzerland do not follow saria.
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Mansoor Sajid
Dec 09, 2012 09:25am
Pakistan should follow the suit to control and bring down the crime rate, where even minor children are kidnapped, raped and killed without any remorse.
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Anwar Qureshi
Dec 09, 2012 09:27am
This is called prompt and inexpensive justice; Islamic Shariah, which should be enforced in Pakistan too instead of keeping the cases lingering on for indefinite period of time and hiring expensive lawyers.
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Ahmad - Aus
Dec 09, 2012 09:44am
no value of life, as of any better in Pakistan...........
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Naseer
Dec 11, 2012 02:53pm
If equal punishment was given to everyone, it could be credible. Selective justice is against Islam. In Saudia if an Indian or Pakistani has an accident with a Saudi, police always blames the expatriate. Anyone having lived in Saudia for even one year will confirm that.
Saudi's do not pay salary to many many domestic servants, keep them like their kaneez or ghulam and police can not do anything. Is this justice?
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rajiv
Dec 11, 2012 01:00pm
Walk down without the fear and yet 70 people executed this year alone.. what the were executed for watching sunny Leone.. there is end to slaves of rich countries in India and Pakistan... next time you say crime rate is low consider numbers, you don't get hear about crime cause news is controlled..
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Ejaz
Dec 10, 2012 01:41pm
wasn,t he beheaded ? Don,t you know? Find out first before you comment.
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Basharat
Dec 09, 2012 06:23pm
The same law was applied to a prince of the ruling family for the same crime.
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Arsalan Usmani
Dec 09, 2012 02:39pm
remember that the guy executed didn't kill any Saudi but a compatriot and if Saudi would have committed the same crime he would also be dealt in the same way and according to the Islamic laws if family of the person killed accepts compensations then only the guy could be saved from death
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Anonymous
Dec 10, 2012 06:29am
You indeed have little knowledge on KSA my friend. I have had the opportunity to live there for a considerable period of time. Never had I seen anyone being discriminated based on the color of their skin. I am not defending the Saudis, but whatever they are doing seems to be working. Yes they aren't perfect, and yes they have an elitist class that is somewhat above the law, but by and large we do see the rule of law and its implementation. You can walk down the road in the evening without the fear of being mugged. I appreciate what the Saudis do, they have created a society that is actually safe for everyone, even though if this security comes at a price of sacrificing your personal liberties a bit. The other alternative, is of course our pathetic model.
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Muhammad Imran
Dec 10, 2012 06:17am
The Conclusion on this talk would be that if Saudi arabia is parcticising half sharia (which is good) but would be better if it implements the whole aspect of sharia and completely without discrimination. But said again, that this half implemented sharia has it's own good effects in society in crime control and imagaine how good would it be if total implementation without discrimination. I hope if Pakistan can implement not full, not half but even minor aspects of sharia with justice not being delayed for the victim families, then there would be at least some peace and respect in pakistan.
Just Pray for Hidaya.
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p r sharna
Dec 09, 2012 02:55pm
Does sharia law have any provision of appeal to higher judicial authority( if exists) ?
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Javed
Dec 09, 2012 02:55pm
Arabs and particularly Saudis who violate the laws in Pakistan should also be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.
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Javed
Dec 09, 2012 02:59pm
Agreed. It is shameful that the Saudis treat their own fellow Muslims from Pakistan, India etc as 3rd class citizens.
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Saad (DXB)
Dec 09, 2012 02:21pm
Can Saudis please confirm how many westerners they have beheaded in let's say... Last 20 years? I dare you Saudis... Post the numbers here... Islam is in a miserable state of affairs becuase the supposed HQ of Islam has become a hub for individuals pursuing their own selfish interests to stay in power, while appeasing their powerful supporters.. A real shame.
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Adil Jadoon
Dec 10, 2012 05:02am
You dont need to kill people to control crime. If you know you will not get away with a crime you would never do it. Basic human psychology. Improve the police and the judicial system. Criminals should be punished but they should all certainly be caught.
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Adil Jadoon
Dec 10, 2012 04:58am
Down with the KING. We demand his HEAD.
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Adil Jadoon
Dec 10, 2012 04:55am
No one supports murder but a reconciliation with punishment for the purpetrator is always better than two dead people.
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Hari
Dec 11, 2012 11:54am
An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind- Gandhi
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Gandhian
Dec 10, 2012 01:32am
if sharia law is applied in totality then how many members of Pakistani National, Provincial assemblies, Senate, Federal and Provincial Cabinets, Political leaders, senior officers of bureaucracy establishments and leaders of religious factions will be left free of prosecution and conviction? This is just a friendly question.
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Sam
Dec 09, 2012 09:12pm
What an irony, long live Sharia law, long live the progressive religion of Islam
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Kamran
Dec 09, 2012 07:21pm
Did the Saudi person who shot King Faisal in the past got beheaded? The answer to this question will tell a lot. Usually, law is made by the rich for the poor.
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malaydeb
Dec 09, 2012 06:45pm
Well done KSA. All non Islamic countries should follow this example in respect of Muslim convicts in their countries.
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Abid
Dec 09, 2012 04:25pm
Very true and very well said. Every one should be equal in front of law.
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Lal
Dec 09, 2012 04:21pm
..... and it is obvious that is not working, the rate should drop if they are teaching a lesson but is not.
The fact remains that they are barbarians.
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kaiser waziri
Dec 09, 2012 04:13pm
An eye for eye for everyone. But is that the case in Saudi Arabia?
Only the poor from poor countries get punished. Have they ever killed anyone from a rich country? NEVER!
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kaiser waziri
Dec 09, 2012 04:19pm
Saudi Arabia has the worst human rights record in the world. They kill poor people from poor countries to scare their own people and keep them under control. Have they ever killed anyone from any rich country or any rich person from their own country. NEVER!
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AAHmed
Dec 09, 2012 04:17pm
Why live in USA?
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Basharat
Dec 09, 2012 06:20pm
It takes 6 to seven months to come to conclusion in these cases. A proper verification is done. The person who commits this act is given a chance for blood money if the victoms family agrees. Some seniors usually try for this way. If every thing fails then the death sentence is carried out.
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Pavas Ambashta
Dec 09, 2012 03:45pm
I wonder what your response would have been, had such a punishment given to any Pakistani in any non Islamic country for the same crime under same situation??
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Javed
Dec 09, 2012 06:21pm
Brother Waseem, please share your views on the hundreds of Pakistanis who have been beheaded by the Taliban and other terrorists. Are they murderers and how should they be punished ?
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Jamal
Dec 09, 2012 04:52pm
Lets start with Mustafa Qadri first but wait a minute, hasn't he got a full protection and support from one and all.......err, who?
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waseem
Dec 09, 2012 02:22pm
Shame on those who support a murderer. If you value life then feel the pain and suffering caused to the victim and his loved ones.
Whether the punishment is carried out by lethal injection, hanging or beheading, the result is the same. However, beheading would cause instant death with minimal suffering. For the observers, beheading may appear more horrific than other methods. Thus, it gives a strong message of not taking innocent lives.
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