Saudi Arabia: Pakistani man and daughter beheaded

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday beheaded a Pakistani national and his daughter for smuggling heroin into the kingdom, the Interior Ministry said. Mohammed Rafiq Myased and his daughter Abajan, also Pakistani, were convicted for bringing heroin into the kingdom. They were executed in Jiddah, the statement said. Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed. Wednesday's execution brought to 35 the number of people beheaded in the kingdom this year. Saudi executions are performed with a sword and in public as a deterrent. The kingdom beheaded 83 people in 2005 and 35 people in 2004.