Capital and physical punishments imposed by Saudi courts, such as
beheading,
stoning (to death),
amputation and
lashing, as well as the sheer number of executions have been strongly criticized.[SUP]
[137][/SUP] The death penalty can be imposed for a wide range of offences including murder, rape,
armed robbery, repeated drug use,
apostasy,
adultery,
witchcraft and
sorcery and can be carried out by beheading with a sword, stoning or firing squad, followed by crucifixion.[SUP]
[138][/SUP][SUP]
[139][/SUP] The 345 reported executions between 2007 and 2010 were all carried out by public beheading. The last reported execution for sorcery took place in June 2012.[SUP]
[140][/SUP]
Although repeated theft can be punishable by amputation of the right hand, only one instance of judicial amputation was reported between 2007 and 2010. Homosexual rights are not recognized. Homosexual acts are punishable by flogging or death.[SUP]
[138][/SUP][SUP]
[141][/SUP] Lashings are a common form of punishment[SUP]
[142][/SUP] and are often imposed for offences against religion and public morality such as drinking alcohol and neglect of prayer and fasting obligations.[SUP]
[138][/SUP]
Retaliatory punishments, or
Qisas, are practised: for instance, an eye can be surgically removed at the insistence of a victim who lost his own eye.[SUP]
[132][/SUP] Families of someone unlawfully killed can choose between demanding the death penalty or granting clemency in return for a payment of
diyya, or blood money, by the perpetrator.[SUP]
[143][/SUP]