VOA慢速英语2015 越来越多的人在沙特阿拉伯被处决

AS IT IS 2015-06-02 Rising Number of Executions in Saudi Arabia 越来越多的人在沙特阿拉伯被处决

Human rights groups are reporting an increase in the number of executions in Saudi Arabia. Saudi executions are usually beheadings, where the prisoner is killed in a public place. Some observers say the increase could be a show of force by the government. They say Saudi officials are seeking to keep the kingdom safe from a security crisis in other countries.

Last week, Saudi Arabia executed its 89th prisoner this year. That is almost equal to the number killed in all of 2014. Adam Coogle studies Middle East issues for Human Rights Watch. He says Saudi officials have given no reason for the increase.

“Saudi Arabian authorities do not comment publicly on this issue other than to say that under Islamic Law it is their right to carry out executions. Because they do not release information, we really do not know for sure why there has been a rise in the number of those executions over the last, really eight to nine months.”

The rise in executions began last August, after Islamic State militants¹ launched attacks on communities in Iraq and Syria. The militant² group, also known as ISIS, gained control of large areas with surprising speed.

Sevag Kechichian is a Saudi Arabia expert with the rights group Amnesty International. He says the increased number of executions may be a product of unrest in the area.

“The theory is the reason why the Saudi authorities have been carrying out executions at such a rate is because they want to signal to ISIS, to others in the region, that they are quite in charge or in control of what is going on inside the country and that they will punish transgressions³ extremely harshly. It is sort of a show of power."

There are competing theories to explain the increase, he adds, like increased efficiency in the judiciary.

Most executions are carried out in public spaces, and the condemned⁴ are beheaded. Sometimes, the bodies are left lying in the open.

Twenty-two countries permit execution as a form of punishment. Saudi Arabia is often on the list of the top five countries that perform the most executions. The other four are China, Iran, Iraq and the United States.

Adam Coogle of Human Rights Watch says there is strong evidence that Saudi courts do not meet international norms for fair trials.

“Some people allege⁵ that they were coerced⁶ into confessing. Some people claim they had difficulty accessing lawyers. One of the big issues is the defendants⁷ not actually initially⁸ knowing the charges against them, until after they have actually been brought before a judge.”

He adds that nearly half of all executions in Saudi Arabia are for crimes related to drug trafficking. And he says some people are executed for other non-violent crimes, like having sex with someone other than your husband or wife.

Last year, Shia Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was sentenced to death. The sentence was announced after he was accused of disobeying the ruler and inciting⁹ religious violence. He also was accused of supporting and leading demonstrations¹⁰. His case fueled protests around the world.

If al-Nimr is executed, tensions could increase between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims in Saudi Arabia and other countries.

But a Kuwait-based observer, Haidar Ghadhanfari, thinks the execution is unlikely. He notes recent Saudi efforts to reach out to the country’s Shia minority.

Amnesty’s Sevag Kechichian says the possibility for political unrest could delay or cancel the execution. He claims that al-Nimr’s trial had a political motive¹¹ and lacked strong evidence. Even so, some officials appear ready to carry out the sentence.

Words in This Story

beheading(s) – n. cutting off the head of someone as a punishment

transgression(s) – n. a violation¹² of the law; wrongdoing; mistake

coerce(d) – v. making someone do something by use of force or threats

confess(ing) – v. to admit that you did something wrong or illegal

motive - n. a reason for doing something

1 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 transgressions   

n.违反，违法，罪过( transgression的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many marine transgressions occur across coastal plains. 许多海运是横越滨海平原。 来自辞典例句
• For I know my transgressions, and my sin always before me. 因为我知道我的过犯，我的罪常在我面前。 来自互联网

4 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

5 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

6 coerced   

v.迫使做( coerce的过去式和过去分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配

参考例句：

• They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. 他们被迫通过谈判解决。
• He was coerced into making a confession. 他被迫招供。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

8 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

9 inciting   

刺激的，煽动的

参考例句：

• What are you up to inciting mutiny and insubordination? 你们干吗在这里煽动骚动的叛乱呀。
• He was charged with inciting people to rebel. 他被控煽动民众起来叛乱。

10 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

11 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

12 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。