A prince from the Saudi royal family was executed on Tuesday for murdering a man during a brawl in the capital Riyadh, the Interior Ministry announced.
The execution of Prince Turki
Saud-al-Kabir is an extremely rare case of a member of the
conservative kingdom’s ruling family being put to death.
The Interior Ministry stated that “in announcing
this, we want to affirm to all that the Kingdom’s government is determined to
establish security. It will bring about justice and implement God’s law
against all those who attack the innocent.”
Meanwhile, local media reported that the killing
for which the prince was executed took place in 2012.
The media indicated that Prince Turki’s death
sentence was upheld by the Appeal Court and the High Court.
Another royal prince welcomed the news, in the
first public reaction from a member of the ruling family.
Prince Khaled Al Saud said “this
is God’s law, and the way of our blessed kingdom. May God have mercy on the killer
and his victim.”
A report says the execution brings to 128, the
number of persons put to death so far in the country this year.
Saudi Arabia, which applies strict interpretation
of Islamic law, is among the top executioners in the world, according to
international rights groups.
On January 2, authorities beheaded 47 people,
including a prominent Shiite cleric, on terrorism-related charges, leading to
furious protests from regional rival, Iran and criticisms from rights groups.
Saudi Arabia imposes the death penalty for
offences including murder, armed robbery, banditry, rape, drug-trafficking and
witchcraft.
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