Job alert: 8 new executioners in Saudi Arabia, no special qualifications needed

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Just five months into 2015, and the Islamic kingdom has already put 85 people to death. That is a just few executions shy of the total number from all of 2014, according to Human Rights Watch.

While Saudi Arabia has a reputation for carrying out more capital punishment than all but two other countries worldwide, this recent and rapid rise is unique and, so far, not clearly explained.

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Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.