Psyche, Science, and Society

Saudis to behead “witch”

February 21st, 2008

Valtin, over at Daily Kos, tells the horrifying story of the Saudi woman sentenced to be beheaded for being a witch! This in the 21st century. Alas, this execution is not unique, but part of a pattern of brutality by the Saudi state.

As Human Rights First reports, as quoted by Valtin, the conviction is based on a “confession” extracted by brutal beatings:

The legal basis for this decision includes the statement that witches “are not given the opportunity to repent, because witchcraft is not eradicable by penitence”….

…the accused was unable to challenge any of the witnesses against her: the witnesses did not testify in court, but gave written statements, and the judge kept her in the waiting room during sessions when evidence was presented….

Fawza Falih spent 35 days in detention at the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) after her arrest on May 4, 2005 (25/3/1426). Her detention there violated a 1981 royal decree prohibiting the CPVPV from holding and interrogating suspects at their centers. She asserted in her appeal that she was beaten during her interrogation, naming one official of the governorate. Her appeal states that she lost consciousness during one beating and was treated at the hospital. She asserts that fellow female prisoners bandaged her wounds. Human Rights Watch spoke to a relative who was allowed to visit her for the first time after about 20 days in CPVPV detention, following her hospital treatment, and saw marks from beatings on her back. There would thus have been ample evidence to indicate that her confession was coerced.

Valtin concludes:

I leave it to my readers to decide what it means in 2008 that to save an innocent woman’s life one must write to a King. If you do write to HRH King Abdullah bin Abd al-’Aziz Al Saud, at Royal Court, Riyadh 11111, Saudi Arabia, please be polite and save your political points for elsewhere. Ask for justice and mercy.

Later, as you reflect upon the state of our world, pray to whatever god you like for the same upon all of us. Upon one innocent woman’s head lies the destiny of us all.

Entry Filed under: Human Rights, Law, Middle East, Torture