TV psychic gets death sentence
Human rights campaigners have called on King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to intervene in the case of a TV presenter who has been sentenced to death for the crime of "sorcery". Ali Hussain Sibat (pictured), who presented a popular psychic call-in show on a satellite TV channel, was arrested by religious police when he visited Saudi Arabia in 2008.
Mr Sibat, 48, is married with five children. His wife has told CNN, "I haven't seen my husband in two years. I don't know if he's eating. I don't know if he's healthy. I don't know how he looks. This has been very difficult. I don't even have enough money to be able to travel to Saudi Arabia to see him."
It is understood that Ali Hussain Sibat was sentenced to death by a secret court in Madina on 9 November, and was not permitted any legal representation or assistance during hearings.
Read Amnesty International's account of the case here. According to Amnesty, "at least 158 people were executed in Saudi Arabia in 2007 and at least 102 in 2008. Since the beginning of 2009, a further 67 people are known to have been executed."
Comment number 1.
At 12:09 24th Mar 2010, Heliopolitan wrote:Maybe we could get the execrable Derek Acorah to visit Saudi? So what's the deal here - do the Saudi "religious authorities" (now there's an oxymoron) actually believe that this circus sideshow "schtick" (to use one of Markie's annoying Americanisms) has any metaphysical validity? And if so, are they not de facto admitting that their ever-so-honourable Abrahamic religion belongs in the same tent? Mr Sibat should of course be released immediately, unharmed, and the Saudi legal system needs to divest itself of religion.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 13:28 24th Mar 2010, Golfie wrote:Helio,
This is a matter for their religious beliefs and conscience, we should not be asking them to go against their conscience just because it is stupid or barbaric or discriminatory. They cannot help it, it is what god has told them is right or wrong.
They probably think it is strange that we do not stone adulterers as our god commands. (I use our god because even though I do not believe in him, I am told that he is my god anyway)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 14:49 24th Mar 2010, John Wright wrote:Damn, I wish we did this over here too. I'd love to see Sylvia Browne at the gallows. You've got to be strict with them. This sorcery has got to stop. If you were to ask me what my top five social evils were, sorcery would be right in there. Go Saudis! Thank you.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 15:22 24th Mar 2010, graham veale wrote:Nearly 2 hours since Golfie posted...
is the moderator irritating anyone else?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 16:35 24th Mar 2010, Will_Crawley wrote:John, in case anyone missed your point in response to a life-and-death story, I shall point out what should be obvious: You were being ironic.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 16:43 24th Mar 2010, Golfie wrote:Hmmmm,
I think maybe I will stay away from too much sarcasm,
It just frustrates and baffles me what evils can be done in the name of religion.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 16:58 24th Mar 2010, John Wright wrote:Hmm, yes, sorry... I was being ironic. The story amazes and angers me, actually. In the West we tend to forget that the equivalent of witch trials are still going on in some parts of the world; that anybody still thinks this man deserves death for reading horoscopes is bewildering. I only hope the challenges to this ruling succeed.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 21:55 24th Mar 2010, Heliopolitan wrote:Odd, isn't it, that the people standing up for freedom of belief, no matter how wacky, are the atheists.
No, actually, it is not odd at all...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 22:28 24th Mar 2010, David Kerr wrote:What action can we take for this man?
DK
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 22:33 24th Mar 2010, Ian Hall wrote:This is the brutal reality of life in a truly Islamic country.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 22:47 24th Mar 2010, graham veale wrote:Helio
I've been busy defending Morcambe and Wise's sleeping arrangements on the "Inn" thread.
Which is a difficult task these days.
GV
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 00:22 25th Mar 2010, Golfie wrote:Ian,
christians and athiests are quite capable of this kind of brutal reality too. Check out Uganda and China respectively
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 13:20 1st Apr 2010, tykeoon wrote:Absolutely astonished and horrified by this story when came across it on the BBC website. Seriously can something be done for this poor man? I can't understand why it isn't a top story on the BBC news and other media ? too offensive to SA if it is.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 18:50 1st Apr 2010, M2 wrote:Like some others here, I am shocked and dismayed by this news. With less than 24 hours to go, I've created a Facebook group for those - like me - who want to show we object to this outcome: https://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&ref=mf&gid=115130058501043#!/group.php?v=info&ref=ts&gid=115130058501043.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)
Comment number 15.
At 01:31 2nd Apr 2010, ChristianCalvinist wrote:I bet he didnt see that one coming..... but seriously does the Bible not command that these people be put to death?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 15)
Comment number 16.
At 15:57 4th Apr 2010, PeterKlaver wrote:A little bit of good news. BBC news reports the man would not be executed on the originally scheduled day:
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8600398.stm
However, the article also notes he's certainly not safe yet and might still be executed later. Another man was executed for sorcery in Saudi-Arabia in 2007.:(
ChristianCalvinist, is your post 15 meant so signal agreement with the verdict?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 16)
Comment number 17.
At 21:04 4th Apr 2010, Heliopolitan wrote:In fairness to CC, Jean Calvin would have had this unfortunate loony burned at the stake. Calvin was that sort of chap.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 17)
Comment number 18.
At 00:49 7th Apr 2010, RS wrote:As a Christian Lebanese living overseas, I would advocate the arrest and trial of some religious Saudi zealot in Beirut followed by a public hanging if the Lebanese "sorcerer" is executed in Saudi Arabia. When is the civilized world going to set limits with these savages who think that they own the world? Besides, if you go to a country like Saudi Arabia, you are asking for it! So why go????????
Complain about this comment (Comment number 18)
Comment number 19.
At 17:22 9th Apr 2010, ChristianCalvinist wrote:well what does God say is the punishment for a sorcerer in the Holy Bible??? or does we just ignore his commands because we are too civilised for God now??
Complain about this comment (Comment number 19)
Comment number 20.
At 14:17 27th Apr 2010, M2 wrote:Hello BBC! What's happened to Ali?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 20)
Comment number 21.
At 22:33 27th Apr 2010, Valerie Christie wrote:The most up to date article I can find on this is The New York Times from 3 days ago, it says that the execution has been postponed again.
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/world/middleeast/25saudi.html?src=mv
Complain about this comment (Comment number 21)