Death sentence passed in Saudi Arabia on witchcraft charge

Southeast Asia News.Net
Friday 27th November, 2009

Internationally recognised Human Rights Watch has complained to Saudi authorities about a death sentence imposed on a Lebanese national convicted of practicing witchcraft.

Ali Sibat, a Lebanese psychic who made predictions about the future on a satellite TV program from Beirut, was charged when he entered Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage in May 2008.

He was then sentenced to death by decapitation on 9th November this year.

Human Rights Watch has asked that the charge of witchcraft be overturned and Ali Sibat returned to Lebanon.

According to the court ruling, he will be returned if he confesses to witchcraft.

The crime of witchcraft is vaguely defined in the justice system of Saudi Arabia, where Islamic law gives individual judges leeway to effect draconian sentences.

Dozens of people are arrested each year on charges such as witchcraft, black magic and fortune telling.

The practices are severely punished according to Sharia rules.

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