Saudi Arabia Now Hiring Executioners

Beheading rate has more than doubled since last year
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted May 19, 2015 3:21 AM CDT
Saudi Arabia Now Hiring Executioners
Saudi police stand guard outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.   (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Saudi Arabia has stepped up its execution rate: Eighty-five people have been beheaded so far this year, compared to 88 in all of 2014, according to Human Rights Watch—and created job opportunities in the process. The country's Ministry of Civil Service has advertised for eight executioners, with no specific experience required, the New York Times reports. Diplomats believe the surge in executions may be linked to the appointment of more judges, which has allowed a backlog of cases to be cleared, reports Reuters, which notes that the Saudi ad describes the executioners as "religious functionaries." No salary was posted, and the other duties of successful applicants may include cutting the hands off thieves, the Times notes. (More Saudi Arabia stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X