What is the world coming to? First stone-throwing is banned (primarily officially) and now this. What’s next? Prosecuting “honor crimes” as regular ones? In a fast-paced world, and a faster-paced Saudi Arabia (KSA), anything seems possible.
According to an AhramOnline report, Saudi Arabia may stop beheadings due to swordsmen shortages. This potential bold move (one only hopes it would be reversed) dispels the rash and irresponsible critiques of KSA’s violations of human rights.
In that vein,
A joint Saudi committee composed of representatives of the ministries of interior, justice, and health is mulling the replacement of beheading with firing squads for capital sentences.
People underestimate the importance of a firing squad in shooting one person. Suppose it is only one man doing the shooting, and he has bad aim, what would happen? Not only will the upholstery or concrete behind the inmate be bruised but everyone watching will see that he missed. Consider the shame as he drives home. Worse, what if he feels a sense of inferiority after missing and turns his guns on the lovely crowd watching? Having multiple people shoot a blindfolded and handcuffed man avoids this really embarrassing, or tragic, outcome because the observers (including those in the first row) will not know who missed.
Furthermore, according to the report, the
Gulf kingdom beheaded 76 people in 2012, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Human Rights Watch (HRW) put the number at 69.
Thus, from a labor point of view, nixing the beheading by a swordman in favor of hiring a whole firing squad is labor intensive, which meshes with the Kingdom’s new social justice bent towards going easy on criminals. Beheadings after 2013 are becoming unbecoming. Yet even before, it was nice that beheadings were conducted by well-sharpened swords, adding a nice touch to more barbaric alternatives. We all recall the days of Mr. Abou Mus`ab-style beheadings in Iraq when really dull knives were used. Nasty.
Even though “[t]he beheading issue has always been a source of tension between Saudi Arabia and the international community,” the international community is not satisfied with this new approach. Having a whole bunch of people stand in front of a man, look directly at him as others are watching, and fire directly at him, is just so passé and, in the final analysis, not just inhumane, but also (please don’t let any children who watch CNN read this next word) graphic. Why can’t the Saudi Government kill in a civilized manner like the U.S. government does, with drones. Let someone else clean up the mess. And you don’t have to face your victims (and their families/neighbors/walkers by) after killing them. The Mideast policy preferences of the two countries almost mirror each other, so why not take them a step further? After all, what can go wrong with killing criminals and terrorists?
Most importantly, thanks be to the almighty, the said committee asserted that this decision
would not violate Islamic law, allowing heads – or emirs – of the country`s 13 local administrative regions to begin using the new method when needed [pun not mine. Wallah]
Many were really worried that it would actually be in violation, which would tip the balance back in favor of beheadings. Such deliberations reinforce the care and humanity afforded to prisoners.
Needless to say, considering the demands on the modern swordsman these days (from sharpening and maintaining polished swords to grocery shopping and synching mobile and desktop devices, etc.), many are moving away from the profession, and, according to the Committee members (may the angels of heaven keep revolving around them in a most parabolic manner), worse:
"This solution seems practical, especially in light of shortages in official swordsmen or their belated arrival to execution yards in some incidents; the aim is to avoid interruption of the regularly-taken security arrangements," the committee said in a statement.
Belated arrival to execution yards is just bad form and kind of pisses off those waiting to have their heads separated from their bodies. Here, the committee is faulted for not hiding this embarrassing detail that reinforces the stereotype about Arabs being late.
Still, the debate rages on. Proponents of each method have submitted their arguments, referencing human rights laws, religious texts, and proper etiquette. In the end, some have suggested offering those to be executed the following discursive options verbally and registering the cringe factor on their face:
Sabah il-kheir, please follow me to the execution yard. Many gun-wielding men are going to blow your brains out at once.
Sabah il-kheir, please follow me to the execution yard for your beheading. There need be no spring in your step, Salem was sharpening his sword and is currently stuck in traffic.