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The brother of a New Zealand student was executed last night despite an 11th-hour appeal from Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Meshel Ali Suliaman, who is studying medicine at the University of Auckland, appealed to Amnesty International at 3pm yesterday after finding out his brother Hadi was to be executed at 6pm. The normal method of execution in Saudi Arabia is beheading.
Hadi Ali Suliaman al-yami, in his late 20s, was sent to prison four years ago for helping a friend convicted of drug trafficking escape from jail.
His original sentence of 10 years in prison changed to the death penalty a few days ago. The man he helped escape was apparently recaptured and executed about 18 months ago.
Amnesty sent urgent messages to the Prime Minister's office asking her to approach the Saudi Government. She lodged an appeal with the Saudis to spare the man's life.
A spokeswoman for Helen Clark said: "The situation was drawn to her attention by Amnesty late [yesterday] afternoon. She's asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to make urgent representations to the Saudi Government including a personal appeal in her name.
"New Zealand opposes the use of the death penalty regardless of the reason it is used. It is the ultimate form of cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment."
Amnesty spokeswoman Margaret Taylor said Saudi Arabia had performed 103 executions since the beginning of the year.
Amnesty was trying to find out more information about why Ali Hadi Ali Suliaman al-yami's sentence was changed, she said.
Helen Clark yesterday spoke at an event at Parliament to highlight World Day Against the Death Penalty.
