Court upholds death sentence against sorcerer
Published: Mar 12, 2010 02:12 Updated: Mar 12, 2010 02:12
JEDDAH: The General Court in Madinah upheld its verdict against 46-year-old accused Arab sorcerer Ali Hussein Subat (aka Shahrzad), saying he deserved death for publicly practicing black magic, thus spreading corruption on the earth.
The judges said they called for the execution of the man for his continuous practice of black magic and that he had been doing it publicly for several years before millions of viewers of a satellite channel.
In a statement on Wednesday, the court said it was not convinced by the appeal bench’s rejection of its verdict against the sorcerer and its attempt to ask the man to repent.
“All evidence proved that he was practicing black magic,” the court said.
The general court has now passed the case back to the Appeals Court in Makkah. It also seized the man’s cell phone, which he was carrying at the time of arrest.
The court insisted that the magician deserved death in order to make him an example and deterrent for others, especially for foreigners who come to the Kingdom to practice sorcery.
The appeals court rejected the general court’s first verdict on Dec. 8, 2009, saying it was a premature one and that the man should be asked to repent if he had really committed the crime. The appeals court also wanted to make sure that all allegations made against the defendant were genuine.
The magician was arrested at a hotel in Madinah two years ago. Members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice seized a talisman where he had written the name of a man, his mother and wife.
Shahrzad acknowledged in front of the general court in Madinah that he had presented a black magic program on the Saudi Sports Channel. However, he claimed that he was practicing black magic during the past eight years in order to treat patients. He also admitted that he had called for the assistance of Satan, Jinn and talisman for his purpose.

Comments
SNOOPIES622
Mar 12, 2010 18:40
Report abuseRABIUL HAQUE
Mar 13, 2010 12:08
Report abuseMy request to religious police is to track these kerala sorcerors and bring them to punishment
YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME
Mar 13, 2010 12:08
Report abuseMUKHTAR NISAR SHEIKH
Mar 13, 2010 12:10
Report abuseASEM MOHAMMED MANSOOR
Mar 13, 2010 12:10
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