Islam, Arabia and Death by Beheading
By Madan G Singh, 20th May 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutNewsOff Beat
The world over death by beheading is a thing of the past, but it is alive and thriving in some Muslim countries
A Punishment from a bygone age
Saudi Arabia considers itself the custodian of Islam as it is home to the most holy shrines in Islam at Mecca and Medina. In the bargain Saudi Arabia follows the unadulterated version of Islamic law as laid down in the Sharia. One of the punishments laid down in the Sharia is death by beheading.
The Sharia states this in no unambiguous terms and Kafirs and enemies of Islam are also to be beheaded. This involves carrying out an execution by cutting the head of the individual. It is considered a barbaric form of death, but at one time it was prevalent allover the civilized world. It was a form of death very much in vogue in Europe till the 19 century. But after that period this form of execution was stopped. It however carried on in the east, with the Japanese being its biggest supporters. There are umpteen cases of beheadings by Japanese army during world war II.
However at the end of the war the execution by beheadings has stopped all over the world, except in some Islamic countries, with Saudi Arabia being the leader. On an average almost 300 beheadings are carried every year in Saudi Arabia. Human rights activists have been protesting, but to no avail. the Saudi's are unrelenting in their application and acceptance of this method of execution.
The beheadings are carried out in public and witnessed by the populace at large. The beheadings are publicized and the accused made to kneel before the crowd and made to face Mecca. The executioner then positions himself behind the poor man who is kneeling with his hands tied behind his back. The executioner then swings his sword so as to sever the head from the torso. The fact that it is carried out in public makes the act more despicable. Worse the act is usually carried out in front of a mosque.
The USA is the ally of Saudi Arabia and one wonders how this nation steeped in obscurantism is the ally of the USA.. One also muses whether the USA is really a champion of the freedom ? Surely some explanation is called for from the US leadership.
Comments
20th May 2012 (#)
This is really a brutal and cruel activity and should be banish. We can't create any thing then how can we destroy. I surprised to know about this beheading even in this developed centuries also. Good sharing Madan, thanks for the sharing.
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20th May 2012 (#)
Thank you spicy
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20th May 2012 (#)
I dread to visit a country where the judicial system is also suspect. I have heard of house-helpers or maids from foreign countries having to pay this ultimate penalty, found guilty of killing employers who had abused them in the most despicable way. It is not mere statistics as some innocents have also been subject to this cruelty. Thanks Madan, for bringing this unpleasant topic about man's cruelty to his own - siva
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20th May 2012 (#)
Thank you Siva
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20th May 2012 (#)
So glad you are writing this Madan...many thanks...
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