Saudi Arabia abolishes flogging
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the state human rights commission said Saturday, hailing a “major step forward” in the reform programme launched by the king and his powerful son.
Court-ordered floggings in Saudi Arabia — sometimes extending to hundreds of lashes — have long drawn condemnation from human rights groups.
The state human rights commission said that the latest reform, which was reported by Saudi media including the pro-government Okaz newspaper, would ensure that no more convicts were sentenced to flogging.
“This decision guarantees that convicts who would previously have been sentenced to the lash will from now on receive fines or prison terms instead,” its chairman, Awad al-Awad, said.
Previously, the courts had powers to order the flogging of convicts found guilty of offences.
In future, judges will have to choose between fines and/or jail sentences, or non-custodial alternatives like community service.
Related News
Senate Chairman leads 23-member delegation in parliamentary development mission
ISLAMABAD, JAN 24 /DNA/ – The European Union Delegation to Pakistan hosted a pre-departure receptionRead More
Serena Hotels sponsors National Readers’ Conference 2025 in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, JAN 24 /DNA/ – Serena Hotels under the Public Diplomacy initiative sponsored the much-anticipatedRead More
Comments are Closed