Saudi Executions near 100 This Year!

Local Editor

Saudi authorities executed two men on Tuesday, bringing to 98 the number of executions carried out in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom so far this year.

Saudi citizen Ali Assiri was executed in the southwestern region of Asir, the interior ministry said.

Pakistani Mohammed Mokhtar, who was convicted of heroin trafficking, was executed in the eastern city of Dammam, the ministry said.

Saudi Arabia imposes the death penalty.

Most people executed are beheaded with a sword.

However, executions resumed on Sunday when authorities put a Saudi man to death.

Human rights group Amnesty International says the kingdom carried out at least 158 death sentences last year, making it the third most prolific executioner after Iran and Pakistan.

Amnesty's figures do not include secretive China.

The London-based watchdog says the Saudi rate of executions this year is "higher than at the same point last year."

They included prominent Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team