Amnesty for all convicts facing flogging sentences

Amnesty for all convicts facing flogging sentences

Okaz/Saudi GazetteRIYADH — Saudi Arabia's higher authorities have issued directives to pardon all those who were sentenced to flogging by all courts in the Kingdom before the abolition of flogging as a form of punishment, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learned from well-informed sources. This will be applicable to persons in various emirates of the Kingdom who face flogging sentences but the verdicts have not yet been carried out.In April this year, the General Commission for the Saudi Supreme Court took the landmark decision to end flogging as a form of punishment and replaced it by prison sentences, fines or of both.Subsequently, Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council Sheikh Walid Al-Samaani issued a circular to all courts across the Kingdom to implement the decision of the Supreme Court.The minister cited in the circular the Supreme Court's decision instructing all courts to pronounce jail term or fine or of both as penalties as an alternative to flogging in line with the regulations issued