In the Dark Ages people were routinely condemned to death and executed in barbarous ways as sorcerers, witches, warlocks and the like. But, of course that’s all in the past.

Except in Saudi Arabia where religious police, the Muttawa, arrested a Lebanese man for sorcery, and he is condemned to die by beheading Friday, April 2, 2010 – not a thousand years ago but right now.

His wife pleaded for his life on behalf of their two small children saying, "All I ask is for the Saudi king and the Saudi government to show him mercy -- let him come back to his country and his family."

The man was arrested while visiting the country for an Islamic pilgrimage in May 2008 – Saudi Arabia will not release details of his sorcery.

Because of it oil and wealth Saudi Arabia has generally escaped scrutiny for its miserable human rights record, and in fact is petulant. In fact the issue is seldom raised.
Prince Saud al-Faisal recently said, "Human rights is (sic) the responsibility for the government of its own people, not of other governments. We are doing what our people expect us to do."

The currently condemned man is known for his television appearances as a psychic who makes predictions on Lebanese Satellite television stations along with advice for relationships and life in general. In 2008 Saudi Arabia executed an Egyptian man for sorcery he was found guilty under Shania law of having tried “through sorcery” to separate a married couple, according to a Ministry of Interior statement.

Ironically there is still a law in Lebanon against sorcery but it is a misdemeanor.