Saudi Arabia crucifies Myanmar man convicted of murder

Courts found he broke into woman’s home and stabbed her to death; also convicted of attempted rape, theft; execution endorsed by King Salman

By AP 8 August 2018, 7:31 pm Edit

In this file photo from Sept. 15, 2015, Muslim pilgrims walk outside the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy, File)

Saudi Arabia has said it executed and crucified a man from Myanmar convicted of killing a woman and carrying out other crimes.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency reported on the execution Wednesday, saying it was carried out in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.

It said Elias Abulkalaam Jamaleddeen entered a Myanmar woman’s home firing a gun and then stabbed her to death. He was convicted of robbing her home and another home, attempted rape, and stealing firearms and ammunition.

The report said his conviction was upheld by the courts and his execution was endorsed by King Salman.

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s top executioners, though crucifixions — in which the condemned is usually beheaded and then the body put on display — are rare.

Riyadh has recently faced criticism of its human rights record, as the United States and European Union said they were seeking details about the arrest of women’s rights activists in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian ambassador Monday and froze “all new business” with Ottawa over criticism of its arrest of the activists.