Human Rights Voices

While the UN devotes its human rights operations to the demonization of the democratic state of Israel above all others and condemns the United States more often than the vast majority of non-democracies around the world, the voices of real victims around the world must be heard.

Saudi Arabia, October 29, 2006

Drug smugglers beheaded in public

"Saudi Arabia on Sunday beheaded two foreign nationals on charges they smuggled heroin and cocaine into the country, the Interior Ministry said. Adam bin Mohammed Ali Hussein, of Nigeria, was convicted of swallowing lumps of cocaine in plastic bags and smuggling them into Saudi Arabia, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Mahmoud Haji Shadi, an Afghan, was convicted of smuggling heroin. Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed. Their execution in the capital brought to 18 the number of people beheaded in the kingdom this year. Saudi executions are performed with a sword and in public as a deterrent. The kingdom beheaded 83 people in 2005 and 35 people in 2004."