Saudis execute more Black Africans on the basis of Islamic law

Black Information Link:

SAUDI ARABIA executed six Black Africans last week. At least one victim was not told he had been condemned to death, it is alleged.

Five Somalis and one Sudanese man have been put to death in the last week by the House of Saud.

The five Somalis were each jailed for five years in 1999 and sentenced to 3,000 lashes for "abducting and robbing" taxi drivers.

When their sentences were up they remained in jail, despite protests from Amnesty International. There are claims that the five are innocent and were forced to sign confessions written in Arabic after being tortured.

A spokesperson for the Saudi embassy in London told the Independent on Sunday the six men had "committed hundreds of crimes."

Dr Ali al-Qarni, was quoted as saying: "The death penalty is not an issue for discussion. It is Islamic law. A rapist, a killer is going to get capital punishment."

Last year almost half of the 33 people executed were foreign nationals. The 40 people killed so far this year represents an increase of over 500%.

London bus driver Abshir Hassan said he had spoken to his brother Abdel-Fatteh by telephone last Monday and said the prisoner had no idea he would be beheaded the following day.

A spokesman for Amnesty International said: "Any rise in executions is worrying, but the secrecy and lack of fairness makes these figures even more frightening."

In the news:

SOMALIA: Saudi beheading of Somalis "grossly unfair" – Amnesty says

Six Somalis beheaded in Saudi Arabia for armed robbery

Saudi Arabia: Amnesty International renews calls to end executions immediately

Around the Blogosphere:

House of Saud Re-Embraces Totalitarianism

Saudis execute more Black Africans

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