Decapitation

Decapitation, or beheading, is the removal of a living being's head, inevitably resulting in death. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, or knife, or by means of a guillotine. Accidental decapitation can be the result of an explosion, automobile or industrial accident or other violent injury. Suicide by decapitation is rare, but not unknown. In 2003 a British man killed himself by means of a home-made guillotine, constructed over a period of several weeks.

Beheading by Islamist militants

After the 2003 invasion of Iraq and during both the U.S. led occupation of Iraq and the War on Terror, some foreigners have been kidnapped by Islamic extremists and used for pressing the United States and the rest of the countries of the coalition to release prisoners or remove their troops from the country. In many cases the kidnappers have also seized other Muslims as hostages, especially non-Arabs and Shia Muslims. The kidnappers threaten to behead the victims if their demands are not met. Where the kidnappers have not succeeded the beheading has sometimes been videotaped and the tape sent to the media, who however did not broadcast the actual beheadings. The executioners frequently use a knife or hacksaw rather than a quicker method such as axe or guillotine. The killers sometimes flash the head in front of the camera and then set it onto the decapitated body as a way of showing that the person died. In July 1995 the Kashmiri islamist group al-Faran kidnapped five Western tourists in Kashmir because India's Government refused to release guerillas who were held in prison. One of them was later found beheaded.

Related Topics:
2003 invasion of Iraq - U.S. led occupation of Iraq - War on Terror - United States - Shia - Hacksaw - Axe - Guillotine - 1995 - Al-Faran

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~