beheading

Beheading, also called decapitation, refers to the act of removing the head from the body. Throughout history it has served as a form of capital punishment, execution by various bladed weapons, and sometimes as a method of political killing or ritualized punishment.

The practice appears in many ancient and medieval societies, including Mesopotamia, ancient Greece and Rome, medieval Europe, and parts of Asia. In Europe, beheading often targeted royalty or nobility, while commoners were more likely to be hanged. In the early modern period the device most associated with beheading was the axe; later the beheading blade was used, with the guillotine becoming prominent during the French Revolution and the 19th century.

In the present era, beheading is still legal and practiced in a few jurisdictions, notably as a method of execution in Saudi Arabia for certain offenses such as murder and drug trafficking; public executions have been reported in some cases. Elsewhere, beheading has largely been replaced by other methods of execution, and many countries have abolished the death penalty altogether. The practice has also appeared in extremist propaganda and acts of terrorism, used to intimidate, shock, and garner attention.

Ethical and legal debates frame beheading as a symbol of severe violence and a violation of human rights. International human rights norms generally oppose cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment, and many organizations advocate for abolition or reform. The topic intersects with historical memory, religious and cultural law, and ongoing discussions about the boundaries of capital punishment.