Thief’s hand amputated in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH - A man has had his hand amputated as punishment for robbing a shop, Saudi Arabian officials said Sunday in a statement.

The punishment was meted out Saturday in the southwest Jazan region bordering the Red Sea. The man was said to be aged 50 and from an Arab country. No further details were given.

In Saudi Arabia, which follows strict Islamic laws, corporal punishment is common, and convicted thieves often have a hand amputated.