Saudi Arabia is a Sharia state, so many of these men were likely executed for Sharia offenses, which include apostasy: a hadith depicts Muhammad saying: “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him” (Bukhari 9.84.57). The death penalty for apostasy is part of Islamic law according to all the schools of Islamic jurisprudence. It would certainly qualify as a “deviant belief.”
“Saudi Arabia executes 81 men in one day, the biggest mass execution in decades,” Reuters, March 12, 2022:
(Reuters)Saudi Arabia executed 81 men on Saturday, including seven Yemenis and one Syrian, for terrorism and other offenses including holding “deviant beliefs,” authorities said, in the biggest mass execution in decades.
The number dwarfed the 67 executions reported in the kingdom in all of 2021 and the 27 in 2020.
“These individuals, totaling 81, were convicted of various crimes including murdering innocent men, women and children,” the interior ministry said in a statement.
“Crimes committed by these individuals also include pledging allegiance to foreign terrorist organizations, such as ISIS (Islamic State), al Qaeda and the Houthis,” it added.
Some traveled to conflict zones to join “terrorist organizations,” the statement said.
The ministry did not say how the executions were carried out.
The men included 37 Saudi nationals who were found guilty in a single case for attempting to assassinate security officers and targeting police stations and convoys, the ministry added.
Keith O says
The usual method of executions in Saudi Arabia is beheading, in public, as a warning to anyone who might somehow get the idea that a change of leadership might be a good idea.
mortimer says
This mass killing reminds us that Islam is a Death Cult that kills people for even minor offenses such as DIFFERENCES of belief.
Under this rubric, the CROWN PRINCE himself is GUILTY because he has CHANGED the ISLAMIC RELIGION’S belief in the HADITHS.
He has stated he DISBELIEVES MOST OF THE HADITHS. That makes the Crown Prince guilty of KUFR.
If the Crown Prince has become a DEVIANT he has rejected the Islam of THE CONSENSUS … STANDARD Islam.
mortimer says
Keith O writes: “The usual method of executions in Saudi Arabia is beheading”.
They ‘whack’ their opponents … just like the Mafia.
gravenimage says
Saudi Arabia executes 81 for terrorism and other crimes, including ‘deviant beliefs’
Saudi Arabia is a Sharia state
…………….
Yes, it is. So much for the idea that many have that Saudi Arabia is “reforming Islam”.
Infidel says
Uh, if they indeed executed people for joining groups like ISIS, al Qaeda, Houthis and so on, how does it disprove the recent trend that they have been going soft about islam? Going soft on islam doesn’t require them to totally abolish the death penalty and become as suicidal as the West when confronting reactionary forces that threaten them
mortimer says
Those who CHANGE Islam among the leaders of KSA, are now DEVIANTS who should be EXECUTED for KUFR.
Infidel says
Deranged as usual! MbS is the first ruler under whom the Saudis have
‣ Stopped preaching hatred of Jews & Christians in their madrassahs
‣ Started teaching their students on subjects other than islam
‣ Stopped funding dawa activities outside Saudi Arabia, including mosques
‣ Banned Tablighi Jamaat and their activities
‣ Now executed people for joining IS and al Qaeda
This is totally different from past rulers Fahd and Abdullah, who used to pay off those jihadis and try to focus them outwards worldwide so that they don’t turn on the Saudi monarchy. Whereas MbS is confronting them head-on, and also ending the intellectual feeding of this islamic movement by overhauling what they teach in madrassas. Yeah, some of the changes are slow, but Saudi Arabia can’t be expected to stop being a shariah state overnight
gravenimage says
Infidel, saying that lax rulers are regarded as practicing Kufr is mainstream Islam–this *is* how pious Muslims think.
then, I would take MbS’s supposed reform of Islam with a large grain of salt–he seems to be more going after political enemies–including women demonstrating for rights–and minority sects like Shia than anything else.
gravenimage says
Infidel, there is no doubt that Islamic states execute members of rival Jihad groups. This in and of itself is not proof of opposing Jihad itself. And mass beheading people in public is hardly a sign of a “moderate” Islam, either.
Westman says
The “apple” didn’t fall far from the tree.
mortimer says
The most traditional part of Islam is executing deviants and crushing freedom of thought.
In other words, a death sentence for thought crimes is the most Islamic punishment.
Mohammed burned Muslims who didn’t attend his prayer sessions in their homes.
Kenneth J Johnson says
The United Sttes had 11 executions in 2021. KEN
Lisa Letto says
Paying a one way ticket for those politicians who most need an education in the real world, outside their cushy bubble
abu taleb says
Seems the USA and Canada are not far behind. Anybody who is against CRT, LGBTQ+, trans genderism or mRNA vaccine is persecuted. Biden begs to Saudi and gets ignored. Saudi has become the master.
OLD GUY says
The only thing good coming from Saudi Arabia is OIL. Other than that it is nothing but another islamic dictatorship.