Tehran summons Saudi charge d’affaires over beheading of Iranian
Iran has summoned the Saudi charge d’affaires in Tehran to hear the Islamic Republic’s protest against the recent beheading of an Iranian man in Saudi Arabia on a charge of drug trafficking.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Iranian Expatriates’ Affairs Hassan Qashqavi said on Thursday that the execution of the Iranian man is “unacceptable.”
The Iranian diplomat added that Saudi officials argue that the beheading has been carried out based on judicial procedures regardless of political relations. However, Qashqavi stated that Iran does not accept these argumentations.
He said that punishment of a foreign national has political consequences and no government can claim that the execution of a foreign national is no different from that of its own nationals.
The Iranian convict, identified as Raza Abbas Fadhil Aderisawi, was decapitated by sword in an eastern region in Saudi Arabia on September 2.
The Saudi regime carries out capital punishments mostly by beheading.
Saudi Arabia, with one of the highest rates of execution in the world, has frequently been criticized by human rights organizations.
“Any execution is appalling, but executions for crimes such as drug smuggling or sorcery that result in no loss of life are particularly egregious,” said Sarah Leah Whitson of Human Rights Watch.
Saudi Arabia, ruled by a hereditary royal system, enjoys full support of one of its close allies, the United States.
In July, Navi Pillay, then UN high commissioner for human rights, censured Saudi Arabia for harassing human rights activists under a failed judicial system.