A Nigerian found guilty of trying to smuggle cocaine into Saudi Arabia was decapitated by the sword on Saturday, the Interior Ministry announced.
The execution of the man identified as Tawfiq Tassin Mohammad took place in the western port city of Jeddah, the ministry said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency SPA.
His death took to at least 92 the number of people decapitated since the start of the year in the kingdom, according to a tally compiled by AFP from official statements.
Under a strict interpretation of Islamic law, Saudi Arabia imposes the death penalty for murder, rape, apostasy, armed robbery, drug trafficking and repeated drug offences.
More than 102 people were executed last year in the kingdom, under an AFP count, provoking an outcry by Amnesty International.
In 1998, 29 people were executed, sharply down on the previous year's 123 executions. But 1995, a record year, saw 191 executions in Saudi Arabia -- RIYADH (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
 
     
                   
   
   
   
   
   
  