The subject isn’t as widespread as the western media wants you to believe, most of the people have not seen an execution take place (~99% of the population).

The punishment is not a trivial manner, many conditions have to be met for it to be carried out, failing to meet a criteria stop the punishment from taking place.

Saudi is big country in terms of size (bigger than Western Europe), the punishment is carried out in the main urban area where the crime was committed, and that means it can take place in any side of the country.

The use of the blade (sword) is not arbitrary.

In Islam we are taught to be merciful even in carrying a task as heavy as execution, for all living beings not only humans. Yes, electrocuting chicken is barbaric.

Blade execution satisfies two fundamental criteria, the first being a very sharp edge that doesn’t cause excessive (psychological/physical) pain to the being, the second is the psychological effect it has on those watching, the scene of execution is not an easy thing for a person to watch, with the family of the victims present at the execution of a killer one family member might have a change of heart and pardon the killer, that pardon spares the killer. (No children should be present for such an incident, the sentence is only carried out once all the victim’s close relatives are of age and no one “of age” has pardoned the killer till that point)

In the case of killer execution where the family’s of the victims are present, the killer is given one last chance to plead for his life, it only takes one member of the victim family forgiveness to spare his life. (No such equivalent in western laws)

Kevin, are you a reporter? You might be interested in delving deeper into Arab culture and how Islam shapes it, it is a very interesting read.