Saudi Arabia executes prince for murder

Saudi Arabia has been widely criticised by rights groups for its widespread use of capital punishment. But it is rare for royalty to be put to death.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

19 October, 2016

Saudi Arabia has executed more than 130 people this year [Getty]

Saudi Arabia made a rare announcement that one of the kingdom's princes has been executed for murder.

The man was found guilty of shooting and killing a man during a brawl in Riyadh three years ago, and was put to death in the Saudi capital.

Interior Minister Prince Turki bin Saud al-Kabir confirmed the man's death but gave no specific details as to how he was put to death. Executions are usually carried out by sword, in public, with convicts beheaded.

According to a list compiled by AFP the prince is the 134th person to be put to death in Saudi Arabia this year.

However it remains rare for members of the royal family to be executed. One previous case saw Faisal bin Musaid al-Saud put to death after the Saudi Prince executed hs uncle, King Faisal, in 1975.

According to al-Arabiya, Kabir's sentence was carried out after the victim's family refused offers of "blood money" that if accepted would have seen the prince spared.

In a statement the interior ministry said that the ruling had been exacted to show the government "is keen to keep order, stabilise security and bring about justice through implementing the rules prescribed by Allah".

Most people executed in Saudi Arabia are convicted for murder and drug trafficking, although nearly 50 people were put to death for "terrorism" on a single day in January -including the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Saudi Arabia has been widely criticised by rights groups for its practice of capital punishment.