Saudi shortage of swordsmen prompts approval of executions by firing squad

The Guardian ^ | Monday 11 March 2013 16.13 EDT | Reuters in Dubai

[Pan_Yan]

Saudi Arabia has authorised regional governors to approve executions by firing squad as an alternative to public beheading, the customary method of capital punishment in the kingdom, the Arab News reported on Monday . The English-language daily gave no explanation.

But another newspaper, Al Youm, reporting the measure on Sunday, said the reason for the change was a shortage of swordsmen.

...

"A shortage in sworsdmen and their unavailability in a number of areas" meant the executioners had to travel long distances sometimes to get to the place of executions, making them sometimes late, the newspaper reported the circular as saying.

[Tenacious 1]

The swordsmen with seniority make it hard for a new guy to get a head on the job.

Nice.

[Stormdog]

“Don’t let Obama see the word swordsman.”

Oh he’s quite familiar with it, just in a “different” context.

[Zeneta]

Swordsman.

Obama says “Word smith”

[I want the USA back]

Bearded savages becoming a little humane?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Maybe this gal should move there?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2995820/posts

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Heads won’t roll...

[elcid1970]

I always thought a swordsman was a soldier, who proved his mettle in combat against other swordsmen, not just an executioner of a bound, helpless human being.

And doesn’t the Saudi executioner require an assistant to poke the condemned with a pointed stick to cause him/her to involuntarily straighten up & expose their neck to a better cutting angle?

Some “swordsman”, indeed.

[Slings and Arrows]

Do you have the “beheadings” ping list?

It was cut off.

[Zeneta]

Just for fun.

[Gay State Conservative]

When I was in the UAE a couple of years ago I tried like the Dickens to get a visa for Saudi.at that time at least it appeared that there was *no such thing* as a tourist visa for US citizens.I'd just about sell my soul to go there to watch a beheading.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Jaw-dropping news.

[bert]

Undoubtedly you were there with a company. To get a Saudi visa, have your company sponsor in Saudi Arabia request the visa.

I think the Friday executions are rare however

[Uncle Chip]

What are they going to do when they have to cut off the hands and feet of thieves -- shoot em off??

[LurkedLongEnough]

What are they going to do when they have to cut off the hands and feet of thieves -- shoot em off??

Oh my. Still laughing.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Available in many colors, including checkered headrag... but not Livestrong yellow.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

Labor shortage in Arabia

[Gay State Conservative]

Undoubtedly you were there with a company. To get a Saudi visa, have your company sponsor in Saudi Arabia request the visa.

Nope,I was on a tourist visa.I got a really cheap fare from JFK to Hong Kong on Emirates and the fare allowed a stopover in the UAE...so I stayed for 3 days and visited with a friend that I went to school with.I've certainly heard of business visas to Saudi but I couldn't get a tourist visa.Either I was going about it wrong (possible but unlikely...I have lots of experience with visas) or they didn't exist.

Oh well....

[ApplegateRanch]

Ivan Skavinsky Skavar must have been more successful than reported.

[bert]

There are no tourist visas. Everyone entering the Kingdom is reviewed. To get a visa you must have a sponsor.

They fear Palestinians will come in hordes if allowed

[ApplegateRanch]

Traditionally, the beheadings are carried out in the central square at the end of Friday mid-day prayers. If the town is walled, they would close & lock the gates, so as to create a captive audience.

When my dad worked in Saudi in the 50s, he made the mistake of going into a town for lunch on a Friday, and saw an execution of (IIRC) 3 criminals.

Unlike the Taliban style slow sawing off with a dull knife, it was one fast stroke with a heavy scimitar. Kneeling & bound, the criminal is first lightly poked in the back of the neck, then, as he flinches his head forward, a roundhouse stroke follow to the neck at the base of the skull.