TV PSYCHIC ESCAPES BEHEADING IN SAUDI ARABIA — FOR NOW

Psychics have often proved to be big stars on broadcast and cable TV in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world — either as real-life personalities or as fictional characters. But they may want to avoid traveling to Saudi Arabia. Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported today (Friday) that Ali Sibat, who appeared on Lebanese television, had escaped the death penalty for practicing “witchcraft,” which was to have been carried out today (Friday). The newspaper quoted an attorney for Sibat as saying that she had been told by Lebanon’s justice minister that her client would not be beheaded today — but that it was not clear whether the execution had been waived or merely postponed. Sibat had appeared on an Arab satellite channel until May 2008, when he was arrested during a pilgrimage to Medina, tried for witchcraft, and sentenced to death.