Woman “Witch” Beheaded For “Practicing Witchcraft And Sorcery”
A woman in her 60’s in Saudi Arabia was beheaded today after being convicted of being a witch, and for “practicing witchcraft and sorcery.” Reportedly, the woman, Amina bint Abdul Halim bin Salem Nasser, had charged people up to $800 per session and claimed she could treat or cure their illnesses.
The New York Daily News reports the woman “was beheaded Monday in the Middle Eastern country’s Al Jawf province, according to the Egyptian news website, Bikya Masr.”
“She was the 76th person executed in Saudi Arabia this year, The Associated Press said. At least three of those killed were women.”
Amnesty International called the action “deeply shocking,” and said that it “highlights the urgent need for a halt in executions in Saudi Arabia,” and adds:
Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty to a wide range of offences ranging from murder and rape to blasphemy, apostasy, sorcery, adultery and drugs-related offences.
Amnesty International Interim Middle East and North Africa Director Philip Luther said:
“The charges of ‘witchcraft and sorcery’ are not defined as crimes in Saudi Arabia and to use them to subject someone to the cruel and extreme penalty of execution is truly appalling.
“While we don’t know the details of the acts which the authorities accused Amina of committing, the charge of sorcery has often been used in Saudi Arabia to punish people, generally after unfair trials, for exercising their right to freedom of speech or religion.â€
The execution is the second of its kind in recent months. In September a Sudanese national was beheaded in the Saudi Arabian city of Medina after being convicted on “sorcery†charges. He had allegedly confessed after being tortured and was tried without a lawyer.
The number of executions in Saudi Arabia has almost tripled this year. So far at least 79 people – including five women – have been executed there, compared to at least 27 in 2010.
Hundreds more people are believed to be under sentence of death, many of them convicted of drugs offences. They have often had no defence lawyer and in many cases have not been informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them.
(Image)
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.