RIYADH, Sep 8: In a chilling case that shocked the Kingdom, Saudi authorities on Sunday confirmed the execution of a Saudi woman in Mecca after she was found guilty of murdering her husband in his sleep by pouring acid on him.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the woman, identified only by her initials H.M.T., carried out the gruesome act against her husband, F.D.A., by dousing him with a corrosive substance as he lay defenseless in bed. The acid burned through several parts of his body, ultimately leading to his death.

Investigators concluded that the killing was premeditated, and prosecutors charged her with deliberate murder. The case was swiftly referred to court, where a damning verdict confirmed her guilt. The ministry emphasized that the ruling was thoroughly reviewed and upheld through every stage of the judicial process, ensuring no room for doubt.

In its statement, the Interior Ministry described the crime as a “heinous act involving the unjust taking of an innocent life.” The death sentence was handed down not only as retribution for the crime but also, the ministry stressed, as a deterrent to others.

The execution was carried out under Ta’zir, a discretionary form of capital punishment in Islamic law, reserved for crimes deemed exceptionally grave.

This latest execution brings the number of people put to death in Saudi Arabia this year to 248, including four women—a stark reminder of the kingdom’s uncompromising stance on capital crimes.