Pakistani beheaded in Saudi Arabia

Pakistani beheaded in Saudi Arabia

A Pakistani man has been beheaded in Saudi Arabia for attempting to smuggle heroin into the country.

Harat Khan Rahmat Shah was found guilty of trying to bring a quantity of the illegal drug into the kingdom, the Interior Ministry says.

The beheading was the third this year and was carried out in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.

Under Sharia law, Saudi Arabia executes people convicted of murder, rape and drug smuggling, usually by decapitation.

The punishment was used at least 45 times last year.

Executions are usually carried out in public with a sword.

Human rights groups have criticised Saudi Arabia for continuing to carry out the practice.

Last year the United Nations Committee Against Torture said penalties such as beheading, amputations and floggings violated international conventions against cruelty and degrading treatment.

However the Saudi authorities have said they cannot accept interference in the country's legal system, aspects of which have been practised in the region for more than 1,400 years.