RIYADH: Saudi Arabia says it has beheaded two men accused of drug smuggling. More than 80 people were executed in the Muslim kingdom last year despite appeals to desist from the United Nations and human rights groups.
The Saudi Interior Ministry said two convicted Saudis were executed by beheading on Thursday. The executions were carried out in the northwestern province of al-Juf and the eastern region of al-Ihsa, it said.
It named one of those killed as Malik bin Said al-Sayaari and said he had a repeat conviction for hashish smuggling.
According to the news agency tallies, at least 83 people were beheaded in Saudi Arabia last year, up on 79 executions recorded by Amnesty International in 2013.
Beheading is the usual method used in Saudi Arabia for crimes punishable by death, such as rape, murder, armed robbery and apostasy or insulting the prophet Mohammed.
Last August, Amnesty International condemned what it called a “disturbing surge” in executions in Saudi Arabia.
