Announcement from Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court on Saturday April 25, states that flogging has been abolished as a form of punishment.
The recent development is aimed at aligning the kingdom with international human rights norms against corporal punishment. The initiative is part of the reforms championed by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and his son, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
Going forward, judges in the country will need to opt for fines and/or jail sentences or consider non-custodial alternatives like community service.
According to AFP, the decision to abolish corporal punishment in Saudi Arabia comes shortly after the kingdom’s human rights record drew public attention due to the death from a stroke in custody of prominent activist Abullah al-Hamid, 69.
One of the most high-profile instances of flogging in recent years was the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi. He was arrested in 2012, initially sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes, and later resentenced to 10 years and 1,000 lashes in 2014 for blogging about free speech and “insulting Islam”.