Saudi Arabia executes American for torturing and killing his Egyptian father
- A court found that Bishoy Sharif Naji Naseef beat and strangled his father to death and mutilated him after he died
- A total of 91 people – 19 of them foreigners – have been executed in the kingdom so far this year
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday executed a US national convicted of torturing and killing his father, state media reported, bringing to at least 19 the number of foreigners put to death this year.
The death sentence for Bishoy Sharif Naji Naseef was carried out in the Riyadh region, the official Saudi Press Agency said.
The Gulf kingdom is frequently criticised for its prolific use of capital punishment, which human rights groups say undermines its bid to soften its image through a sweeping “Vision 2030” social and economic reform agenda.
A court found that Naseef, whose age was not given, beat and strangled his Egyptian father to death and mutilated him after he died, and that he also used drugs and attempted to kill another person, SPA said.
The mode of execution was not specified, but Saudi Arabia has in the past often used beheading when implementing the death penalty.
Riyadh’s ally the United States did not immediately comment on the execution.