Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Saudi Arabia 'holds off on executing sorcerer'
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Saudi Arabia 'holds off on executing sorcerer'
AFP - Friday, April 2
Send
IM Story
Print
The minarets of the Prophet Mohammed Mosque are lit during prayers in the holy Saudi city of Medina in 2005. Beirut's envoy to Riyadh said on Thursday he has yet to be informed of a Saudi decision to behead a Lebanese former TV presenter convicted of sorcery, which was expected to be carried out this week.
BEIRUT (AFP) - – Saudi Arabia has apparently decided to hold off on carrying out the execution of a Lebanese former TV presenter convicted of sorcery, a Lebanese minister and the man's lawyer said on Thursday.
Ali Sabat's "mother should rest assured tonight," Lebanese Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar told AFP. "That is what I called his lawyer to say, and that is all that I can say.
"If I didn't have the necessary proof I wouldn't have said that to her."
Sabat's lawyer, May el-Khansa, who had earlier stated she had heard through unofficial channels that her client would be beheaded on Friday, said she was relieved by the latest developments.
Saudi officials have refused to comment on the matter.
Sabat was arrested in May 2008 by the religious police in the Saudi holy city of Medina, where he was on a pilgrimage.
Amnesty International says a court there charged the father of five with sorcery and sentenced him to death in 2009 after he made predictions on a Lebanese television programme that was broadcast in Saudi Arabia.
Najjar said Saudi authorities must realise the charges against Sabat are not dealt with in the same manner in other countries while stressing Lebanon's respect for the kingdom's sovereignty and sharia, or Islamic law.
"The same charge in Lebanon is considered a misdemeanor and is punishable by up to two months in prison," he said.
"I hope I have done the necessary (concerning this case) and I hope other Lebanese officials have done the same."
Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery, drug trafficking and sorcery are among the crimes punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, which strictly applies a version of sharia.
Rights groups have expressed concern about Sabat's case and similar ones pending in Saudi Arabia and have accused Saudi courts of sanctioning a literal witch-hunt by the religious police.
They have also criticised Lebanese officials for failing to publicly take up Sabat's case.
"(Since) this whole thing came to light... we did not see a lot of action by the Lebanese diplomats and government officials to try to seek clemency or advocate on behalf of their national," Human Rights Watch senior researcher Christophe Wilcke told AFP.
Amnesty International also expressed concern about the case.
"Ali Hussain Sabat appears to have been convicted solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression," Malcolm Smart, head of the group's Middle East and North Africa programme, said in a statement.
"It is high time the Saudi Arabian government joined the international trend towards a worldwide moratorium on executions," Smart said, urging Lebanese authorities and Saudi King Abdullah to stop the execution.
About 25 people protested on Thursday outside the Saudi embassy in Beirut against capital punishment, setting up a mock gallows with a dummy on a rope.
Khansa said Sabat's appeal against his conviction was rejected but that he can still be pardoned by the ruler of the province where he was judged.
She said the 46-year-old had no lawyer in the kingdom as he could not afford one.
In November 2007, Mustafa Ibrahim, an Egyptian working as a pharmacist in Saudi Arabia, was beheaded after being found guilty of sorcery.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Teenage 'Black Widow' behind Moscow bombing: report AFP - 23 minutes ago
Israel warns of new Gaza assault after air strikes AFP - 40 minutes ago
Russian, US astronauts blast off to space station AFP - 1 hour 14 minutes ago
UK-World Summary Reuters - 1 hour 19 minutes ago
Obama urges China's Hu to get behind Iran push Reuters - 1 hour 19 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Did comet smashup unleash Earth's mini Ice Age?
Russian, US astronauts blast off to space station
Abortion doctor killer gets life; no parole for 50 yrs
Hopes high for positive US jobs report
Incentives fuel 24 percent jump in US auto sales
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Granny fined $1,500 for selling goldfish to child
Sherpa to carry Hillary's ashes to Everest summit
Mars radar could help find water in Mideast: NASA
What, or who, killed the last mammoths?
Hopes high for positive US jobs report
More Most Viewed »
'Rare' fossil of new dinosaur species found in US
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
Junkies and junk-food addicts share craving mechanism
Toad is a telltale for impending quakes: scientists
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 2 April 2010 Saudi Arabia 'holds off on executing sorcerer'
Karzai slams 'foreigners' over Afghan vote fraud
Soros backs Egypt weekly to give Arab bloggers exposure
Sudanese opposition parties join election boycott
US-TECH Summary
Karzai lashes out at West over Afghan elections
|
GM's US sales jump 20.6 percent in March
Reviews praise iPad battery life, ease of use
Luxury giant to buy former fashion editor's web venture
Rihanna Remains At #1 For Third Week On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
Boeing 'disappointed' with extension of US tanker deadline
US media raves over Apple iPad
Casino Offers "Winner" Breakfast Instead Of $42 Million
Military threatens to kill Guinea-Bissau PM
Finnish post to start digital mail trial
Justin Bieber Earns First #1 Album On Billboard With "My World 2.0"
Nokia says wins China deals worth over $2 billion
Mass escape from Yemen jail after blast
|
Reviews praise iPad battery life, ease of use
Turkish commandos seize 9 pirates in Gulf of Aden
|
US sanctions London-based Al-Qaeda 'gunrunner'
Bissau soldiers oust army chief, briefly hold PM
|
Nokia says wins China deals worth over $2 billion
Afghan president blames foreigners for vote fraud
China, N.Korea plan Yalu hydropower dams: reports
Iraq Shi'ite party open to alliance with Allawi
|
Economist says NKorea to phase out private markets
Kyrgyzstan shuts newspaper, online news portal
China says Hu to attend nuclear security summit in US
China steps up rescue efforts at flooded mine
South Korea hunts for clues to warship disaster
Thai elections now would cause uncertainty
India begins world's biggest head count; 1.2 bn
Obama Administration Seeks To End Discrimination In The Housing Sector
71 Million Doses Of H1N1 Flu Vaccines May Be Discarded
General Motors, Ford Post Large Sales Growth In March
Ashley Tisdale To Star In New "High School Musical" Spin-Off
Winter Music Conference Officially Begins--Dance Music Revelers Rejoice
Escaped Wallaby Hopping Around Florida Neighborhood
Tech Experts Believe Internet's Influence On Institutions Will Spark Efficiency In Most Arenas
Google Renamed Topeka
Only For Today
Comedy Centrals New Special Awkward Comedy Show Premieres April 9
Accomplice In School Bathroom Assault Given House Arrest
Microsoft sues UK game controller maker
|
Toyota's US sales jump 35.3 percent in March
U.S. court rejects Microsoft patent case appeal
|
'Certain consensus' after Taiwan, China trade meet: official
New website brings crowd sourcing to fashion
|
China dismisses charges of unfair business climate
Hundreds ride reopened Peru's Machu Picchu train
NKorea says no chaos followed currency reform
Japan author sues police over ban on 'yakuza' publications
Matisse 'Bouquet' painting up for auction in New York
Shakespeare becomes French in April Fool's Day fest
FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Taiwan
FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in New Zealand
Musician remixes anti-war hit "19" for Afghanistan
True Blood star Anna Paquin says she is bisexual
|
Jennifer Hudson takes new role for weight loss
|
John Malkovich seeks $2.23 million from Madoff trustee
|
Obama urges China's Hu to get behind Iran push
Putin, Chavez, Morales to sign military, energy deals
Obama urges China's Hu to get behind Iran push
|
3 children hurt in Israeli air raids on Gaza: hospital
Toshiba to make sub-25nm flash memory: Nikkei
Karzai slammed after attack on 'foreigners'
Pakistan tables long-awaited constitutional reforms
|
US media raves over Apple iPad
Did comet smashup unleash Earth's mini Ice Age?
Israeli planes and helicopters mount Gaza attacks
Israeli planes and helicopters mount Gaza attacks
|
U.S. appeals court rules for eBay in Tiffany spat
Main Sudan opposition withdraw from presidential polls
Russian, US astronauts blast off to space station
Disney announces iPad applications
Cheap and deadly, homemade bombs plague Afghan roads
|
Karzai slams 'foreigners' over Afghan vote fraud
Abortion doctor killer gets life; no parole for 50 yrs
Saudi Arabia 'holds off on executing sorcerer'
Microsoft sues UK game controller maker
Hopes high for positive US jobs report
Incentives fuel 24 percent jump in US auto sales
Turkish officers freed to await coup plot trial
U.S. court rejects Microsoft patent case appeal
Six Iraq al Qaeda leaders killed or arrested: U.S.
|
Daimler pleads guilty to US global bribery charges
New website brings crowd sourcing to fashion
Senior judge calls on Turks to reject reforms
Genome at 10: Scientists urge patience for medical breakthroughs
Reviews praise Apple iPad battery life, ease of use
Bissau troops oust commander, briefly hold premier
|
Colombian rebels turn over kidnap victim's remains
|
Russian, US astronauts blast off to space station
Abortion doctor's killer gets forum, life sentence
Obama urges patience as health care law kicks in
Authorities expand search for missing Colo. girl
800 cases filed on civilians killed in US wars: ACLU
Abortion doctor killer jailed for life; no parole for 50 years
Reviews praise Apple iPad battery life, ease of use
|
Haitians who escaped to US by chance released
CBS, ABC To Make Programs Available On Apple's iPad
Disney announces iPad applications
|
U.S. Markets Rise On Stength In Manufacturing, Energy
Killer of U.S. abortion doctor gets life in prison
Cambodia bristles at US aid cut over deportations
U.S. appeals court rules for eBay in Tiffany spat
|
Toshiba to make sub-25nm flash memory: Nikkei
|
Lawyer: Jailed Sri Lankan author is no Islamist
Obama calls on Hu to support action on Iran
Hamilton fastest at Malaysia GP as Schumacher impresses
Japan indicts NZ anti-whaling activist
Taiwanese offer ancestors paper Ferraris, iPhones
S.Koreans tried for starving baby while online
Beer-drinking Malaysian model starts community service
Rocket blasts off with 2 Russians, 1 American
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Web site of China-based journalist club attacked
HBO film looks at autism through mother's eyes
Jackson doctor fights to retain Calif. license
Japanese architects to convert iconic Paris building
Sexy Vegas-style show revives Berlin revue theatre
Ill Tom Jones cancels Asia concerts
John Malkovich seeks $2.23 million from Madoff trustee
Elton John stage collapses in Mexico injuring three
Jennifer Hudson takes new role for weight loss
"True Blood" star Anna Paquin says she is bisexual
S.Korea buys estimated $1 bln to curb won -traders
Seoul shares at 21-mth closing high on techs, autos
S.Korea spotted buying dlrs to curb won
US companies criticize Chinese market obstacles
PAKISTAN
GM says China sales up 68 percent in March
Japan signals it will not pressure China on yuan
Ill Tom Jones cancels Asia concerts
|
Seoul shares hit 21-mth high on Samsung Elec, autos
Jackson doctor fights to retain Calif. license
|
US senators want China trade barriers investigated
Gusty winds delay thousands at Tokyo's airport
HBO film looks at autism through mother's eyes
|
Sexy Vegas-style show revives Berlin revue theatre
|
Iran rebukes 'threats' as Obama urges Chinese support
Teenage 'Black Widow' behind Moscow bombing: report
Japan teddybear robot comforts elderly, snores
Teenage 'Black Widow' behind Moscow bombing: report
Obama and Medvedev to sign landmark nuclear arms pact
|
Turkish PM says going to U.S., sending back envoy
Russia says Moscow bomber was teenage Black Widow
|
Taiwan's HTC says Apple suit not affecting operations
Iraq's Sadrists go to the polls in PM 'referendum'
Hamilton fastest in Malaysia GP, but cautious
Israel warns of new Gaza assault after air strikes
China buys air defense systems from Russia
|
Pentagon boosting Afghanistan eyes in the sky
|
Christian pilgrims flock to Holy City for Good Friday
Iraq's Sadrists hold vote for prime minister choice
|
Iran says sanctions will not stop nuclear work-report
Putin arrives in Venezuela to meet U.S. foes
|
Majority of Greeks say austerity steps unfair-poll
|
German Church leader feels sorrow for abuse victims
|
Japan indicts activist who boarded whaling ship
Thai 'Red Shirts' set for fresh mass protest
Pakistani lawmakers consider weakening presidency
Turkish envoy to return to US as tensions ease
Sounds heard in China mine where 153 trapped
US to continue to ratchet up pressure on Iran: Obama
US 'to begin profiling air passengers'
Cambodia bristles at US aid cut over deportations
Serbia seeks extradition of suspected Nazi from U.S.
China ups monitoring after recall of vaccine
Tokyo 'regrets' Beijing execution plan
Flooding disaster is latest blow for hard-luck RI
Iran nuclear envoy says dialogue, not sanctions
Thai protesters hunker down for long battle
Special Report: iPad striptease: It's what's inside that counts
|
UN chief tours troubled ex-Soviet Central Asia
Reviews praise Apple iPad battery life, ease of use
|
Disney announces iPad applications
|
China central bank warns of risks to global recovery
Boy On Bike Hit, Killed At Disney World Resort
Malaysia exports up 18.4% year-on-year
MySpace Removes Profile Of Sex-Offender Accused Of Teen's Rape, Murder
New website brings crowd sourcing to fashion
|
Sharp shows 3-D displays for mobile devices
French halal market booms despite political unease
Asian shares gain on weaker yen, US jobs data
Feds: All Militia Members Should Stay In Jail
Sharp unveils 3D displays that require no glasses
U.S. Airports To Employ New Security Standards
WWII Ships Leaking Lead Into San Francisco Bay To Be Removed
Carlyle Taiwan TV deal hits hurdle before deadline
China steelmakers meet, mull iron ore price shift
S.Korea finmin, new c.bank chief to meet on Monday
Jackson doctor pleads to keep his license
Publishers bet future on iPad they haven't yet seen
|
Taiwan's HTC says Apple suit not affecting operations
|
Microsoft sues UK game controller maker
|
U.S. court rejects Microsoft patent case appeal
|
More Charges Brought Against Accused Ohio Serial Killer
Online Retailer You Dont Say Launches New Line Of Green Products For Earth Day
Terrence McNally ready for a break after long year
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights