Brussels, 11/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a statement issued on behalf of the European Union on Friday 11 December, the Swedish Presidency “expresses its concern regarding recent reports of death sentences in Saudi Arabia for activities defined as 'sorcery'... Apart from its firm opposition to the use of the death penalty as such, it is the Presidency's belief that the alleged activities cannot be punishable by law, since they would simply correspond to individuals exercising their freedom of opinion and expression…The Presidency further expresses its dismay - notwithstanding the heinous character of the crimes for which the person was accused - at reports of the beheading and subsequent crucifixion of Mr Muhammad Basheer bin Sa'oud al-Ramaly al-Shammari on 7 December in the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia… The EU also recalls that if the death penalty is maintained, internationally recognised minimum standards must be respected. The Presidency of the European Union calls on the Saudi authorities to abolish the death penalty completely and, as a first step, to establish a moratorium as urged by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolutions 62/149 and 63/168.” (O.L./transl.fl)