The only evidence presented in court was reportedly the claim he appeared regularly on Lebanese satellite issuing general advice on life and making predictions about the future.
The case is causing outrage among human rights campaigners but has made little news elsewhere despite the ludicrous nature of the charges and the extraordinary severity of Sibat’s sentence.
“Saudi courts are sanctioning a literal witch hunt by the religious police,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
“The crime of witchcraft is being used against all sorts of behavior, with the cruel threat of state sanctioned executions.”
Ali Sibat’s supporters say he was denied a lawyer at his trial and was tricked into making a confession.
Yahoo News (via TrueSlant).
What is more:
Unfortunately for Sibat, Saudi Arabian authorities have refused to define what they call “witchcraft,” “sorcery” or “charlatanry.” Saudi Arabia lacks a penal code outside of sharia and judges are given wide latitude in defining criminal acts.
Wow… that’s real security, isn’t it? This guy, I just hate him, let’s condemn him for being a witch.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Deserve Liberty, Angry Infidel. Angry Infidel said: (New Post) Saudi Arabia: TV presenter will be executed on witchcraft charges http://ow.ly/166X6O [...]
This is a primitive culture that kills anyone or anything that does not fit into the narrow parameters of it’s views. This must be taken into account when dealing with them. Think of Europe, or even here, 400-500 years ago.
Hello, Matt.
How on earth these news are not reported once and again?
What I revolt against is the lack of condemnation around the world.
I don’t like psichics or fortune tellers and so on, because in 99% of the cases they are just speaking idiotic things. But killing them???
[...] is an update on this story: Ali Sibat is not even a Saudi national. The Lebanese citizen was only visiting Saudi Arabia on [...]