News / Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia executes convicted murderer in Medina

Sunday, 01 February 2015 6:04 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 01 February 2015 6:03 PM ]

The file photo shows the beheading of a man in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has decapitated a convicted murderer amid rising concerns about the growing number of executions in the country.

In a statement on Sunday, the Interior Ministry said Saudi national, Abdelrahman al-Jahni, was found guilty of shooting another man dead during a dispute.

Jahni’s sentence was carried out in the holy city of Medina.

His decapitation brought to five the number of people executed since Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud took office on January 23 after the death of his predecessor King Abdullah.

The Interior Ministry added that the death penalty reveals the Saudi government's commitment to "maintaining security and realizing justice."

According to the London-based rights group, Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia has one of the highest execution rates in the world.

The country has come under particular criticism from rights groups for executions carried out for non-fatal crimes.

The number of executions in the kingdom has been constantly on the rise in recent years. The country carried out the death penalty against 87 people last year, up from 78 in 2013.

Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery, and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under the Saudi penal code.

SF/KA/SS

Related Stories

Two more beheaded in Saudi Arabia Jan 8, 2015

KSA beheads 2 for killing, drug trafficking Jan 14, 2015

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk