Report: Saudi Arabia may end practice of beheadings
A Sri Lankan vendor displays the front page of daily newspapers in Colombo on January 10, 2013. Saudi Arabia beheaded the Sri Lankan maid in early January after she was convicted of murdering her employer's baby, drawing sharp condemnation from Sri Lankan officials, who had repeatedly urged a stay of execution. / Getty Images
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia A Saudi newspaper says a ministerial committee is looking into formally dropping public beheadings as a method of execution in the oil-rich kingdom.
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where a death sentence results in beheading in a public square.
The authoritative daily Al-Watan says in its Sunday edition that the ministerial committee is considering fatal shootings as an alternative.
The move to end beheadings may be coming due to a shortage of swordsmen, reports Ahram online.
There have been calls in the kingdom for replacing public beheadings with lethal injections carried out in prisons.
The kingdom executes anyone convicted of murder, armed robbery, rape and trafficking in drugs.
It has executed 15 people so far this year, 76 last year and 79 in 2011.
- Saudi Arabia postpones crucifixion, firing squad executions
- Saudi woman to get 10 lashes for driving a car
- Beheadings increase in Saudi Arabia
There was no official confirmation immediately available of the newspaper's report.
The move comes fresh on the heels of the announcement last week that the executions of seven Saudis sentenced to death by crucifixion and firing squad have been postponed.
A Saudi security official said King Abdullah would review the sentences. He met families of the seven on Sunday.
The official said on Tuesday that the ruler of the southwestern province of Asir, Prince Faisal bin Abdel Aziz, ordered the postponement. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The seven were juveniles at the time they were arrested for armed robbery, a capital offense in Saudi Arabia. One told The Associated Press by telephone from prison that they were tortured to force confessions and barred access to lawyers.
Popular on CBSNews.com
- 2 men from diverted Pakistani flight into U.K. arrested
- Toronto mayor: I don't smoke crack cocaine
- Photos of the week 22 Photos
- Graphic video: Man dead in "truly shocking" London attack Play Video
- Bangladesh slum life 13 Photos
- Muslim hard-liners ID suspect in London attack
- Former sex slaves: Osaka mayor should quit
- Tokyo's rockabilly scene 16 Photos
The death penalty penalizes the person who is put to death because in time he might be proven innocent of the crime or he can be rehabilitated in a society that chooses life over death and teaches love over hate.
that the death penalty is a deterrent is no deterrent when it happens quietly, peacefully behind closed doors.
they should die with dignity? sorry, I'm not buying that criminal's rights exceed those of their victims. if their death is to serve a purpose, make sure everyone sees exactly how gruesome an execution can be.
a public hanging where all those smart a** pants sagging around their knees types can _see_ the perp dancing on the end of a rope and what it means to be put to death would be a deterrent.
Out of the mouth of a commie.
Out of the mouth of a commie.
WILBURAGAIN: Good deal!