Goin’ Hagwalah: Saudi Man Sentenced To Death By Beheading For Car “Drifting”

Saudi police have been dealing with a bizarre form of reckless driving called “Hagawalah” where men (women still are prohibited from driving in the Kingdom) skid their cars at high speeds as crowds cheer. Drifters often skid into opposing traffic or into awaiting crowds. One man identified only as “Mutannish” (or “he who ignores”) has been sentenced to be beheaded for killing two people while drifting.

The middle-aged man was convicted of negligent homicide, which is punishable like many offenses by death.

The alternative to death can make an appeal a close question. In 2005, Faisal Al-Otaibi, a Saudi naval officer, was found guilty of killing three people while drifting and was sentenced to death. That punishment was reduced to 3,000 lashes and 20 years in prison. I am not sure how one survives 3000 lashes but it cannot leave a lot of you by the end. Notably, the family was outraged by the decision of Judge Muhammad Amin Mirdad to spare his life for what is a case of reckless driving.

Notably, under Sharia law, the family is given the choice between accepting blood money (diyah) or insisting on the death penalty. The family refused diyah but the court refused to approve the death sentence.

Source: Fox