An Iraqi man convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping a Saudi national was beheaded by the sword in northeastern Saudi Arabia today
Habib bin Abdul Rab al-Mashalawi was found guilty of stealing a Saudi family's money and car at gunpoint after beating and tying them up.
He was also convicted of kidnapping another family member and demanding a ransom to release him.
The beheading in Hafr al-Batin in northeastern Saudi Arabia, near the border with Iraq, brought to 27 the number of executions in the country this year, according to an AFP count based on interior ministry statements.
The kingdom applies a strict form of sharia, or Islamic law, imposing the death penalty for murder, rape, apostasy, armed robbery, drug trafficking and repeated drug use.
In 2001, at least 81 people were executed.
AFP