Kingdom’s Leading Executioner Says: ‘I Lead a Normal Life’

Arab News ^ | june 5 2003 | Mahmoud Ahmad

[MAD-AS-HELL]

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The Middle East's Leading English Language Daily

Thursday, 5, June, 2003 (05, Rabi` al-Thani, 1424)

Kingdom’s Leading Executioner Says: ‘I Lead a Normal Life’ Mahmoud Ahmad, Arab News Staff —
JEDDAH, 5 June 2003 — Saudi Arabia’s leading executioner Muhammad Saad Al-Beshi will behead up to seven people in a day. “It doesn’t matter to me: Two, four, 10 — As long as I’m doing God’s will, it doesn’t matter how many people I execute,” he told Okaz newspaper in an interview. He started at a prison in Taif, where his job was to handcuff and blindfold the prisoners before their execution. “Because of this background, I developed a desire to be an executioner,” he says. He applied for the job and was accepted. His first job came in 1998 in Jeddah. “The criminal was tied and blindfolded. With one stroke of the sword I severed his head. It rolled meters away.” Of course he was nervous, then, he says, as many people were watching, but now stage fright is a thing of the past. He says he is calm at work because he is doing God’s work. “But there are many people who faint when they witness an execution. I don’t know why they come and watch if they don’t have the stomach for it. “Me? I sleep very well,” he adds. Does he think people are afraid of him? “In this country we have a society that understands God’s law,” he says. “No one is afraid of me. I have a lot of relatives, and many friends at the mosque, and I live a normal life like everyone else. There are no drawbacks for my social life.” Before an execution, nonetheless, he will go to the victim’s family to obtain forgiveness for the criminal. “I always have that hope, until the very last minute, and I pray to God to give the criminal a new lease of life. I always keep that hope alive.” Al-Beshi will not reveal how much he gets paid per execution as this is a confidential agreement with the government. But he insists that the reward is not important. “I am very proud to do God’s work,” he reiterates. However, he does reveal that a sword will cost something in the region of SR20,000. “It’s a gift from the government. I look after it and sharpen it once in a while, and I make sure to clean it of bloodstains. “It’s very sharp. People are amazed how fast it can separate the head from the body.” By the time the victims reach the execution square they have surrendered themselves to death, he says, though they may hope to be forgiven at the last minute. “Their hearts and minds are taken up with reciting the Shahada.” The only conversation with the prisoner is when he tells him to say the Shahada. “When they get to the execution square, their strength drains away. Then I read the execution order, and at a signal I cut the prisoner’s head off.” He has executed numerous women without hesitation, he explains. “Despite the fact that I hate violence against women, when it comes to God’s will, I have to carry it out.” There is no great difference between executing men and women, except that the women wear hijab, and nobody is allowed near them except Al-Beshi himself when the time for execution comes. When executing women he will use either gun or sword. “It depends what they ask me to use. Sometimes they ask me to use a sword and sometimes a gun. But most of the time I use the sword,” he adds. As an experienced executioner, 42-year-old Al-Beshi is entrusted with the task of training the young. “I successfully trained my son Musaed, 22, as an executioner and he was approved and chosen,” he says proudly. Training focuses on the way to hold the sword and where to hit, and is mostly through observing the executioner at work. An executioner’s life, of course, is not all killing. Sometimes it can be amputation of hands and legs. “I use a special sharp knife, not a sword,” he explains. “When I cut off a hand I cut it from the joint. If it is a leg the authorities specify where it is to be taken off, so I follow that.” Al-Beshi describes himself as a family man. Married before he became an executioner, his wife did not object to his chosen profession. “She only asked me to think carefully before committing myself,” he recalls. “But I don’t think she’s afraid of me,” he smiles. “I deal with my family with kindness and love. They aren’t afraid when I come back from an execution. Sometimes they help me clean my sword.” A father of seven, he is a proud grandfather already. “I have a married daughter who has a son. He is called Haza, and he’s my pride and joy. And then there are my sons. The oldest one is Saad, and of course there is Musaed, who’ll be the next executioner,” he adds.

[MAD-AS-HELL]

Not mentioned is that he also does circumcisions on the weekends.

[ICE-FLYER]

The Religion of Pieces doing "God's" will.

Truth is this man has zero idea of how many innocent peopl ehe has murdered!

[Mr Ramsbotham]

What a job ... being able to whack off all day long.

[Sax]

Yup. No personal responsibility at all. Allah says it's all good, so I'm down.

[COUNTrecount]

If we don't wake up soon jobs like his will be unionized and listed on Monster.com.

Saudi Arabia’s leading executioner Muhammad Saad Al-Beshi will behead up to seven people in a day.

“It doesn’t matter to me: Two, four, 10 — As long as I’m doing God’s will, it doesn’t matter how many people I execute,” he told Okaz newspaper in an interview.

[Gunny P]

always wondered; butchers put meat on dispay, a pawn shop has the tree-doodad hanging outside. fish mongers...well fish. How a moil advertise his craft....

[The Brush]

As long as I’m doing God’s will, it doesn’t matter how many people I execute,”

I think this is the thought process of many from the "Religion of peace"
You can't negotiate with people like this, you just have to kill them.

[4yearlurker]

Well,it's one way to get ahead in your job.

[Enterprise]

Word is that he runs a head shop on the side.

[battlegearboat]

bttt

[Getready]

From his comments, it would appear that most in his society
seek forgiveness for their sins, but it is not always
forthcoming. They can just hope they get it.

[mtbopfuyn]

I have a lot of relatives, and many friends at the mosque

How ya doin' old buddy, old pal? Here, did you drop this $50 on the way to the mosque this morning? Puleeze, don't lob my head off.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

If we don't wake up soon jobs like his will be unionized and listed on Monster.com.

Planned Parenthood does not advertise there?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Not mentioned is that he also does circumcisions on the weekends.

Planned Parenthood sends him job offers...

[GBA]

Does anyone really believe we can negotiate and have lasting peace with people who believe this way, who follow this religion?

Think about it, "doing God’s will" means killing us, too. We are, by our beliefs and actions, criminals in their society.

As long as this man and his craft are deemed necessary or even celebrated, we will eventually have to fight them, to the death. There is no negotiation with someone "doing God’s will" killing people, including friends, neighbors even family and all done for honor.

[Non-Sequitur]

Truth is this man has zero idea of how many innocent peopl ehe has murdered!

I suppose one could say the same about an executioner in the U.S. It's their law, it's their country, he's just an instrument of government policy.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

How does a moil advertise his craft?...

He uses the foreskins to make a wallet. When you rub it, it becomes a suitcase.

{rimshot}

[toomuchcoffee]

Hi Diddilee Dee
An Executioner's Life For Me...

[AmericaUnited]

I'd bet his wife does not nag him.

[Bubba M. Aurelius]

yes and if he slips he still has a chance to get a head.