Talk:Ahmed Zabana

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Regarding the execution of Zabana, which the article said was botched because the machine stopped working three times. According to Fernand Meyssonnier, the executioner himself, the blade was ready to be dropped when the Grand Mufti intervened to say that the condemned man had not said his prayer. The execution was halted and resumed immediately afterwards. As a result, Zabana suffered unecessary agony as he waited for three minutes under the blade before they decided to lift him up for the prayer. Normally, the blade falls within 2 seconds after the head of the condemned man is in place. The episode is described on page 142 of Paroles de bourreau, Fernand Meyssonnier's memoir.