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TV psychic gets death sentence

William Crawley | 11:02 UK time, Wednesday, 24 March 2010

ali-hussain-sibat-photos.jpgHuman rights campaigners have called on King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to intervene in the case of a TV presenter who has been 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 . 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."

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    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.

  • Comment number 2.

    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)

  • Comment number 3.


    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.

  • Comment number 4.

    Nearly 2 hours since Golfie posted...
    is the moderator irritating anyone else?

  • Comment number 5.

    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.

  • Comment number 6.

    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.

  • Comment number 7.


    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.

  • Comment number 8.

    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...

  • Comment number 9.

    What action can we take for this man?

    DK

  • Comment number 10.

    This is the brutal reality of life in a truly Islamic country.

  • Comment number 11.

    Helio

    I've been busy defending Morcambe and Wise's sleeping arrangements on the "Inn" thread.
    Which is a difficult task these days.

    GV

  • Comment number 12.

    Ian,
    christians and athiests are quite capable of this kind of brutal reality too. Check out Uganda and China respectively

  • Comment number 13.

    Absolutely astonished and horrified by this story when came across it on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ website. Seriously can something be done for this poor man? I can't understand why it isn't a top story on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ news and other media ? too offensive to SA if it is.

  • Comment number 14.

    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: .

  • Comment number 15.

    I bet he didnt see that one coming..... but seriously does the Bible not command that these people be put to death?

  • Comment number 16.

    A little bit of good news. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ news reports the man would not be executed on the originally scheduled day:



    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?

  • Comment number 17.

    In fairness to CC, Jean Calvin would have had this unfortunate loony burned at the stake. Calvin was that sort of chap.

  • Comment number 18.

    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????????

  • Comment number 19.

    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??

  • Comment number 20.

    Hello Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ! What's happened to Ali?

  • Comment number 21.

    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.

Μύ

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