Gaybutton Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 Convicted Killer Beheaded, Put on Display in Saudi Arabia May 30, 2009 Mohammed Jamjoom and Joe Sterling - CNN (CNN) -- Saudi Arabian officials beheaded and then publicly displayed the body of a convicted killer in Riyadh on Friday, an act that prompted a stiff denunciation by a leading human rights monitor. The Saudi Interior Ministry said Ahmed Al-Shamlani Al-Anzi was sentenced to death and then "crucifixion" -- having his body displayed in public -- for the kidnapping and killing of an 11-year-old boy and for the killing of the boy's father, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. Amnesty International issued a statement deploring the punishment, with the group's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui saying in a statement it is "horrific" that beheadings and crucifixions "still happen." Even though the word "crucifixion" is used to describe the public display, the act has no connection to Christianity and the crucifixion of Jesus. The bodies are not displayed on crosses, Lamri Chirouf, who researches Saudi Arabian issues for Amnesty, explained. The Saudi Interior Ministry asserted that Al-Anzi's body was displayed as a warning that those involved in similar crimes would suffer the same fate, the press agency reported. The ministry said Al-Anzi kidnapped the boy and held him for a "malicious purpose" at a grocery store where he worked. He tied rope around the boy's neck and strangled him to death, the ministry said. When the boy's father came to the store looking for his son, Al-Anzi axed the father repeatedly until the man died. When police came to arrest Al-Anzi, Al-Anzi resisted arrest by threatening them with a knife. Police later discovered that Al-Anzi had been previously convicted of other crimes, including possession of pornographic videos and sodomy, the Interior Ministry said. Chirouf, the Saudi Arabian researcher for Amnesty International, said his understanding of how the Saudi government carries out crucifixion jibed with Saudi Press Agency's account. Government officials do use crucifixions, or public displays of executed bodies, as a tool to deter people from committing such a crime, he said. This latest case was classified as an offense of rebellion, one that basically rejected all of the rules of religion and society, he said. Chirouf said those crucified are beheaded first and then their heads are sewn back on their bodies. Then, the corpse is mounted on a pole or a tree. The English-language Saudi Gazette newspaper said the body was placed on public display throughout the evening and Chirouf said it was his understanding that the body was to be displayed for a few hours. In its denunciation of the punishment, Amnesty International deplored the "extensive use of the death penalty" in Saudi Arabia. "King Abdullah should show true leadership and commute all death sentences if Saudi Arabia is to have any role to play as a global leader or member of the G-20," Sahraoui said. The group asserts that "trial proceedings" in the country "fall far below international fair-trial standards." "They usually take place behind closed doors without adequate legal representation. Convictions are often made on the basis of "confessions" obtained under duress, including torture or other ill-treatment during incommunicado detention," Amnesty International said. "Those who are sentenced to death are often not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them or of the date of execution until the morning when they are taken out and beheaded." Amnesty International said there were 102 executions in Saudi Arabia in 2008 and is aware of 136 people believed to be awaiting execution. It says there has been "a high number of executions of migrant workers and other foreign nationals, in particular from Asia and Africa." Al-Anzi was a Saudi national, said Chirouf -- who added "nobody knows how many people are on death row" in Saudi Arabia. Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 Not to be argumentative, but Saudi Arabia IS in Asia. Quote
Gaybutton Posted May 31, 2009 Author Posted May 31, 2009 Not to be argumentative, but Saudi Arabia IS in Asia. It is? I didn't realize it's considered part of Asia. I would have missed that one on 'Jeopardy.' Good. That means I posted this on the appropriate forum after all, although it doesn't have anything to do with gay. Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 It is? I didn't realize it's considered part of Asia. I would have missed that one on 'Jeopardy.' Good. That means I posted this on the appropriate forum after all, although it doesn't have anything to do with gay. But maybe you should change the subtitle: It's not Asia, but what the hell.... Quote
Gaybutton Posted May 31, 2009 Author Posted May 31, 2009 But maybe you should change the subtitle: It's not Asia, but what the hell.... No, I'm going to leave it there. If I change it or edit it out, our responses won't make any sense. Actually, I'm hoping to see some responses to the content of the article, but I do appreciate the geography lesson. Quote
Guest Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 No, I'm going to leave it there. If I change it or edit it out, our responses won't make any sense. Actually, I'm hoping to see some responses to the content of the article, but I do appreciate the geography lesson. That's one region in Asia that I have no ambition to visit. Quote
Guest Astrrro Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Just curious did you think Saudi Arabia was in Africa? Or Europe? Quote
Gaybutton Posted June 5, 2009 Author Posted June 5, 2009 Just curious did you think Saudi Arabia was in Africa? Or Europe? I'm too embarrassed to answer . . . Quote
Bob Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Regardless of where Saudi Arabia technically is, I don't believe I've ever heard anybody refer to Saudi Arabia (or Lebanon, Turkey, Israel, Syria, etc.) as an asian country. Almost always referred to as a middle east/eastern country. About as much sense as calling Russia an asian country and not calling Ukraine or Poland an asian country. Guess they are or aren't asian depending on what the old world cartographers named it in the first place. Ok, carry on. P.S. I wonder if Sarah Palin can see Saudi Arabia from her house..... Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Guess they are or aren't asian depending on what the old world cartographers named it in the first place. All I know is what geography shows and that is that Saudi Arabia is in Asia as is Israel, Lebanon and Syria. Most of Turkey is in Asia, but part is in Europe. Russia is part Asia and part Europe. Countries being Middle East or Far East is irrelevant since that doesn't denote a continent. Quote
Gaybutton Posted June 6, 2009 Author Posted June 6, 2009 "I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix" - Dan Quayle Quote
Bob Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 All I know is what geography shows Nah, I don't think so, Tim. As I attempted to point out (obviously unsuccessfully), calling something a continent isn't always a matter of geography but rather what somebody hundreds of years ago decided. As noted in Wikipedia (admittedly not the font of all knowledge): "Continents are understood to be large, continuous, discrete masses of land, ideally separated by expanses of water."[3] However, many of the seven most commonly recognized continents are identified by convention rather than adherence to the ideal criterion that each be a discrete landmass, separated by water from others. Likewise, the criterion that each be a continuous landmass is often disregarded by the inclusion of the continental shelf and oceanic islands. Given that, I'm starting my own convention - that Syria, Lebanon, etc., are now hereby in the continent named Middle East. But I'm ever so grateful that you initially pointed out that Saudia Arabia is in asia as, without that gem of information, (1) I would never have understood the point GB was trying to make in a post that started out with the title "Saudia Arabia....", and (2) I would have never had the opportunity to name a "new" continent. Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 Nah, I don't think so, Tim. First off, my name is not Tim. For hundreds of years there have been seven recognized continents. Now because you have decided that the Middle East is a continent doesn't make it so. We can argue all this esoteric nonsense forever, but the fact remains that by the vast majority of the world there are only seven continents. If you want to live in your own world where there are more or less that is your privilege. GB made a simple error, which we all do at times, but to try to justify it with a lot of rationalization is tiresome for me. Quote
Gaybutton Posted June 6, 2009 Author Posted June 6, 2009 Nah, I don't think so, Tim. Who's Tim? By the way, does anyone have anything to say about the article that started this thread? Here we have an article about someone being beheaded and then put on display, and all anybody wants to talk about is whether Saudi Arabia is geographically considered part of Asia. Alright already. I concede that Saudi Arabia is part of Asia. Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 By the way, does anyone have anything to say about the article that started this thread? Beheading in Saudi Arabia and other harsh punishments for perceived crimes is a way of life there. What else is there to say about it? Certainly, most of us will agree that is is gruesome and shouldn't happen, but it does. Quote
Bob Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 Beheading in Saudi Arabia and other harsh punishments for perceived crimes is a way of life there. What else is there to say about it? Certainly, most of us will agree that is is gruesome and shouldn't happen, but it does. It seems we all can agree on that (and wow, GB, we're actually back to the initial post!). I wouldn't visit Saudi Arabia under any circumstances given the tendency for the savage cruelty and Dark Age mentality still being played out there on occasion. [The "I don't think so, Tim" phrase is one often used here in the states to denote comical dissent - the phrase is from older US tv show and wasn't intended to suggest any poster's first name is "Tim"]. Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 [The "I don't think so, Tim" phrase is one often used here in the states to denote comical dissent - the phrase is from older US tv show and wasn't intended to suggest any poster's first name is "Tim"]. Which TV show was that? I never heard the phrase and, apparently, neither did GB and we are both Americans. But, I guess, we are off the topic again. Quote
Bob Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 Google it for enlightenment (but, if you watched the show, your mental acuity will take a sharp drop...hehe). Quote
Gaybutton Posted June 6, 2009 Author Posted June 6, 2009 Google it for enlightenment I just did. That's wonderful if you were someone who watched a television comedy, "Home Improvement," which I never did - not even once - and I also never heard that phrase. Now that we know "I don't think so, Tim" really is a phrase (next time put quotes around it and next time don't assume anyone else is familiar with obscure phrases, especially since non-Americans also read this board), I don't suppose we can get off this and actually get to the subject of the thread at some point before the Internet becomes obsolete, can we? Because I'm starting to give some thought to adding one or two more to that "tourist attraction" . . . . . . . . . . Quote
Rogie Posted June 20, 2009 Posted June 20, 2009 Convicted Killer Beheaded, Put on Display in Saudi Arabia Police later discovered that Al-Anzi had been previously convicted of other crimes, including possession of pornographic videos and sodomy, the Interior Ministry said. I don't suppose we can get off this and actually get to the subject of the thread at some point before the Internet becomes obsolete, My first reaction on reading this was why this guy was still alive after his 'previous' . . . as is well known sodomy is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. But, lo and behold, homosexuality is alive and well and in a country admittedly not near you and not in Europe or Africa but in Asia and its name is Arabia, as in Lawrence of Arabia. The one country in the whole world you would have thought had licked the problem, turns out to be just like everywhere else. Allah be praised! http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200705/gay-saudi-arabia Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted June 21, 2009 Posted June 21, 2009 The one country in the whole world you would have thought had licked the problem, turns out to be just like everywhere else. Allah be praised! What problem are you referring to? Quote
Rogie Posted June 21, 2009 Posted June 21, 2009 What problem are you referring to? Trying to be smart, or just confused? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt! If you still can't see my choice of words was deliberate in the context then I suggest you look the word irony up in the dictionary. Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted June 21, 2009 Posted June 21, 2009 Trying to be smart, or just confused? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt! If you still can't see my choice of words was deliberate in the context then I suggest you look the word irony up in the dictionary. You know there is a saying, "Everybody likes a little ass, but nobody likes a smart ass." Quote
Guest xiandarkthorne Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 You know there is a saying, "Everybody likes a little ass, but nobody likes a smart ass." How about a smarting one? I believe that's a traditional form of punishment (and fun for some), too! Quote
