Kingdom’s Leading Executioner Says: ‘I Lead a Normal Life’

Arab News ^ | june 5 2003 | Mahmoud Ahmad

[MAD-AS-HELL]

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The Middle East's Leading English Language Daily

Thursday, 5, June, 2003 (05, Rabi` al-Thani, 1424)

Kingdom’s Leading Executioner Says: ‘I Lead a Normal Life’ Mahmoud Ahmad, Arab News Staff —
JEDDAH, 5 June 2003 — Saudi Arabia’s leading executioner Muhammad Saad Al-Beshi will behead up to seven people in a day. “It doesn’t matter to me: Two, four, 10 — As long as I’m doing God’s will, it doesn’t matter how many people I execute,” he told Okaz newspaper in an interview. He started at a prison in Taif, where his job was to handcuff and blindfold the prisoners before their execution. “Because of this background, I developed a desire to be an executioner,” he says. He applied for the job and was accepted. His first job came in 1998 in Jeddah. “The criminal was tied and blindfolded. With one stroke of the sword I severed his head. It rolled meters away.” Of course he was nervous, then, he says, as many people were watching, but now stage fright is a thing of the past. He says he is calm at work because he is doing God’s work. “But there are many people who faint when they witness an execution. I don’t know why they come and watch if they don’t have the stomach for it. “Me? I sleep very well,” he adds. Does he think people are afraid of him? “In this country we have a society that understands God’s law,” he says. “No one is afraid of me. I have a lot of relatives, and many friends at the mosque, and I live a normal life like everyone else. There are no drawbacks for my social life.” Before an execution, nonetheless, he will go to the victim’s family to obtain forgiveness for the criminal. “I always have that hope, until the very last minute, and I pray to God to give the criminal a new lease of life. I always keep that hope alive.” Al-Beshi will not reveal how much he gets paid per execution as this is a confidential agreement with the government. But he insists that the reward is not important. “I am very proud to do God’s work,” he reiterates. However, he does reveal that a sword will cost something in the region of SR20,000. “It’s a gift from the government. I look after it and sharpen it once in a while, and I make sure to clean it of bloodstains. “It’s very sharp. People are amazed how fast it can separate the head from the body.” By the time the victims reach the execution square they have surrendered themselves to death, he says, though they may hope to be forgiven at the last minute. “Their hearts and minds are taken up with reciting the Shahada.” The only conversation with the prisoner is when he tells him to say the Shahada. “When they get to the execution square, their strength drains away. Then I read the execution order, and at a signal I cut the prisoner’s head off.” He has executed numerous women without hesitation, he explains. “Despite the fact that I hate violence against women, when it comes to God’s will, I have to carry it out.” There is no great difference between executing men and women, except that the women wear hijab, and nobody is allowed near them except Al-Beshi himself when the time for execution comes. When executing women he will use either gun or sword. “It depends what they ask me to use. Sometimes they ask me to use a sword and sometimes a gun. But most of the time I use the sword,” he adds. As an experienced executioner, 42-year-old Al-Beshi is entrusted with the task of training the young. “I successfully trained my son Musaed, 22, as an executioner and he was approved and chosen,” he says proudly. Training focuses on the way to hold the sword and where to hit, and is mostly through observing the executioner at work. An executioner’s life, of course, is not all killing. Sometimes it can be amputation of hands and legs. “I use a special sharp knife, not a sword,” he explains. “When I cut off a hand I cut it from the joint. If it is a leg the authorities specify where it is to be taken off, so I follow that.” Al-Beshi describes himself as a family man. Married before he became an executioner, his wife did not object to his chosen profession. “She only asked me to think carefully before committing myself,” he recalls. “But I don’t think she’s afraid of me,” he smiles. “I deal with my family with kindness and love. They aren’t afraid when I come back from an execution. Sometimes they help me clean my sword.” A father of seven, he is a proud grandfather already. “I have a married daughter who has a son. He is called Haza, and he’s my pride and joy. And then there are my sons. The oldest one is Saad, and of course there is Musaed, who’ll be the next executioner,” he adds.

[Farmer Dean]

The circumcisions are done for free,he only takes tips.

[null and void]

Truth is this man has zero idea of how many innocent people he has murdered!

None. Islamic courts never make mistakes.

[Gritty]

Before an execution, nonetheless, he will go to the victim’s family to obtain forgiveness for the criminal

This is odd. How does one obtain forgiveness from the criminal's family for somebody else's crime.

Or am I reading this wrong?

[Cheburashka]

Before an execution, nonetheless, he will go to the victim’s family to obtain forgiveness for the criminal

This is odd. How does one obtain forgiveness from the criminal's family for somebody else's crime.

Or am I reading this wrong?
---
He goes to the victim's family, not the criminal's.

It part of Sharia law: if the victims family asks for mercy for the criminal, he is to be released.

Of course the criminal's family may offer financial inducements to obtain mercy for their relative.

[dighton]

A man passed a store window with nothing in it but a clock, stepped inside, and asked, “How long would it take you to fix my watch?”

“How should I know?” shrugged the baleboss. “I don’t fix watches. I’m a mohel.

“But—in your window—you have a clock!”

“So what would you put in the window?”

.
— Leo Rosten, The Joys of Yiddish.

[Fiddlstix]

He uses the foreskins to make a wallet. When you rub it, it becomes a suitcase.

{rimshot}

LOL! Here ya go.....

Rim Shot

Click the Pic J

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

ROTFLOL! Do you mind if I use it the next time I put up a joke?

[Gritty]

Thanks for clarifying that. I read it wrong.

[Fiddlstix]

Not at all. Use it any time. J

[Uncle Vlad]

I wonder why, at this late date, after so many incidents like 9/11, we still have idiots on the left like Dennis Kucinich who think we can sit down and kumbayah with these monsters. Is the Left in denial, are they truly that stupid, or both?

[mandingo republican]

To play devil's argument - I thought us Freepers liked capital punishment.

[MAD-AS-HELL]

WE do support cap punishment but not for those who have sex with goats.

[mandingo republican]

Hahahah!!! And also he probablly kills mostly innocent people too. I bet he really loves deep down to hurt, abuse, and kill women - I don't believe anything this guy says. The saudis probablly pay him a fortune.

[Fiddlstix]

.....I thought us Freepers liked capital punishment.

I can't speak for all FReepers and I won't try to.
But.....
Speaking for myself......

I like Capitol Punishment.

[Drew68]

However, he does reveal that a sword will cost something in the region of SR20,000.

Roughly $5,330 for the curious.

Must be a pretty nice sword.

[ICE-FLYER]

I suppose one could say the same about an executioner in the U.S. It's their law, it's their country, he's just an instrument of government policy.P> Sure... IF you are wishing to say that side by side our systems of justice are equal. They are not and for being a Christian in some of these places you get the old head removed.

I am not at all thrilled with the so-called "friendship" we have with the Saudis. Fairweather friends at best and terrorist supporting at worst. They have no great support from me.

Our nation was clearly founded upon Christian Principles that ALLOWED ALL RELIGIONS and until 1947 never had a court case challenging it, and now all of a sudden we are not supposed to have any religious influance at all in our government...this is pure invention. In Saudi Arabia their "religious" law is wholly intolerant of many things. Their religion seeks destruction instead of justice and grace and mercy. They do not worship God...they worship THEIR god. They call him Allah and he tells them to murder infidels...why do we even give them a place at the table to discuss such issues when that is their baseline??