UN human rights office slams sharp rise in Saudi Arabia executions in 2011
\nBy Associated Press, 6 January, 2012
\nGENEVA \u2014 The U.N.\u2019s human rights office has criticized a sharp rise in executions carried out by Saudi Arabia in 2011.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the U.N.\u2019s High Commissioner for Human Rights says the number of executions jumped from 29 in 2010 to at least 70 last year.<\/p>\n
Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva on Friday that the wide range of offenses for which the death penalty is pronounced was particularly troubling.<\/p>\n
He says one woman was put to death last months after being found guilty of witchcraft.<\/p>\n
Colville says Saudi Arabia\u2019s growing use of the death penalty goes against an international trend for fewer executions.<\/p>\n
He says the U.N. human rights office also criticizes the frequent use of \u201cinhuman\u201d double amputation for robbery offenses. …source<\/a><\/p>\n