screams her innocence in graphic footage of the execution uploaded to the
Internet. An executioner in Mecca, the holy city, took two swings to hack
off Layla bint Abdul Mutaleb Bassim's head, after she was found guilty of
beating the girl and raping her with a broomstick.
The incident has sparked outrage in the country, but not because of the
brutal punishment meted out. Rather Saudis are up in arms that the execution
was filmed and posted online, where the woman's family might see it.
Now Saudi authorities have arrested someone for filming the execution,
local media reports. But it was not clear what crime he has been arrested for.
local media reports. But it was not clear what crime he has been arrested for.
The video of Bassim's execution shows how she begged for her life, protesting
her innocence right up until the executioner dealt his first blow.
her innocence right up until the executioner dealt his first blow.
'I did not kill. There is no God but God. I did not kill,' cries Bassim, who
is dressed entirely in black and is kneeling on the pavement circled by
police officers.
is dressed entirely in black and is kneeling on the pavement circled by
police officers.
'Haram. Haram. Haram. Haram. I did not kill ... I do not forgive you ...
This is an injustice,' she screams in the video, which was posted
online on Saturday.
This is an injustice,' she screams in the video, which was posted
online on Saturday.
The executioner, dressed in a white robe, forces her to lie down on
the ground.
the ground.
'I did not,' she continues before a final scream as the executioner
swings his curved sword into her neck. His first blow fails to
sever Bassim's head entirely and he has to swing again before
she is decapitated.
swings his curved sword into her neck. His first blow fails to
sever Bassim's head entirely and he has to swing again before
she is decapitated.
A voice then reads out her crime.
It is a traditional execution for the kingdom, which carries out
death sentences in public.
death sentences in public.
Many Twitter users protested the video being circulated on
the internet because it could be seen by the woman’s family,
but did not object to the beheading itself.
the internet because it could be seen by the woman’s family,
but did not object to the beheading itself.
Bassim was one of 10 people beheaded In Saudi Arabia so far
this year. Saudi Arabia executed 87 people last year, up from 78 in 2013.
this year. Saudi Arabia executed 87 people last year, up from 78 in 2013.
The kingdom had the third-highest number of recorded executions in
2013, behind Iran and Iraq, Amnesty International says.
2013, behind Iran and Iraq, Amnesty International says.
The official Saudi Press Agency said last week that Bassim's execution
came after she was found guilty of the rape and murder of Kalthoum bint
Abdul Rahman bin Ghulam Gadir, her husband's daughter. 'Investigations
led to her trial which proved she was guilty,' the interior ministry was
quoted by SPA as saying.
came after she was found guilty of the rape and murder of Kalthoum bint
Abdul Rahman bin Ghulam Gadir, her husband's daughter. 'Investigations
led to her trial which proved she was guilty,' the interior ministry was
quoted by SPA as saying.
A United Nations special rapporteur has said trials leading to the death
penalty in Saudi Arabia are 'grossly unfair'.
penalty in Saudi Arabia are 'grossly unfair'.
Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are
punishable by death in the oil-rich Gulf state, which is a close
ally of Washington and a regular customer of both American and
British arms companies.
punishable by death in the oil-rich Gulf state, which is a close
ally of Washington and a regular customer of both American and
British arms companies.
Saudi authorities identified Bassim as holding Burmese nationality
but did not specify if she was from its Rohingya Muslim community.
The United Nations describes Rohingya as one of the world's most
persecuted minorities.
but did not specify if she was from its Rohingya Muslim community.
The United Nations describes Rohingya as one of the world's most
persecuted minorities.
Buddhist-majority Burma views its population of 800,000 Rohingya as
illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and denies them citizenship.
illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and denies them citizenship.
Burma's embassy said that without seeing her passport, it could not
confirm whether or not she was a citizen.
confirm whether or not she was a citizen.
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