New documentary features public beheadings in Saudi's 'brutal' regime
A woman clad in black burqa is surrounded by Saudi policemen on a street in Mecca, they hold her down to the ground as she desperately screams ‘I did not do it’, her voice almost like that of a trapped animal. One of the men dressed in white robes then brandishes a sword as she continues screaming. He beheads her with one stroke and her blood is splattered across the road and the screams die. This is a real and chilling public execution that is just one of the stark brutal scenes in a new documentary that aims to expose some 'brutal' realities of Saudi Arabia.
The woman was convicted for killing her stepdaughter and decapitated in the middle of a road. The video had caused much anger in the country, not over the beheading but over the fact that it was recorded and could be seen by her family. A new documentary called ‘Saudi Arabia Uncovered’ which will be aired this week for the first time, is the effort of men and women who did extensive undercover reporting to show the world the brutality of Saudi regime.
The man dressed in white robes beheads the woman in the middle of a street in Mecca. (Photo: videograb)
While most of us have heard that Saudi Arabia is notorious for its public beheadings, watching the blood-curdling life executions, make it more real and terrifying.
The film shows how those accused of crimes are made an example of and the public is not allowed to forgive or forget their crimes easily. The legal system in Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia and the death penalty is handed out for a number of crimes including adultery, murder, armed robbery, drug-related offences, alleged sorcery, rape and apostasy from Islam.
Another footage in the documentary shows five bodies hanging from a pole that is held in mid-air by two red cranes. They were a gang of robbers who were first executed and then their bodies were tied and suspended from the pole for days as a chilling reminder for citizens to see what happens to those who choose a life of crime.
Passing vehicle and people could easily see the men who were hung from the pole. (Photo: Videograb)
While some of the footage in the documentary are already in public domain, it features some rare and never seen visuals and tells the untold stories of men and women who dared to raise their voice against the regime and paid with their lives for their courage.
The film is already facing pressure and a Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been receiving death threats for being a part of the documentary. Hathloul had earlier been jailed for posting a video of herself driving a car, as women are not allowed to drive in the country despite having attained the right to vote, if only recently.
Hathloul had uploaded a video of her driving a car online. (Photo: videograb)
The yet to be aired documentary could rattle the power corridors in the highly secretive and notorious Muslim country and it would not come as news if Saudi authorities try to pressure its allies from banning the screening of the film in coming days.
The documentary not only speaks of the barbaric crime and punishment systems but also exposes what is being taught to young boys and girls inside Saudi mosques.
A cameraman who was shooting secretively asks a boy what he is taught and pat comes a horrifying reply, ‘All Christians must be punished with death until none of them are left, they should all be beheaded.’
The film also shows a preacher who was secretly filmed giving hate-filled messages about non-Islamic religions and asking Allah to finish all those that do not believe in Muslim faith.
The documentary is being produced by ITV and the Public Broadcasting Service and will be aired in US on March 29.
Watch the trailer of the documentary:
