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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According to an application form, the main job requirements include conducting public beheadings as well as amputations for lesser offenses. No special qualifications are listed. However, because the jobs are classified as "religious functionaries," the compensation would be "at the lower end of the civil service pay scale."

Lauren Hansen
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.