Saudi Man Beheaded for Murder

Tue May 28, 6:21 AM ET

AP World - General News

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - A Saudi man was beheaded Tuesday for murdering a compatriot, the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Daoud bin Mohammed al-Yami was convicted of fatally stabbing Mohammed bin Hussein al-Sharmah following an argument and was beheaded in the southern province of Najran, the statement said. It gave no further details.

Twenty-two people have been executed thus far this year in the kingdom. Last year, at least 81 people were beheaded in Saudi Arabia, which follows a strict interpretation of Islam and imposes the death penalty for murder, rape, drug trafficking and armed robbery.

Executions are carried out in public with a sword.