Saudi Arabia abolishes the punishment of flogging and replaces it with imprisonment or a fine

According to reports from Saudi Arabia, the authorities abolished the punishment of flogging in accordance with a legal document circulated by the media.

The document indicated that the Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia decided to abolish the punishment provided that it replace it with imprisonment or a fine.

A prominent Saudi human rights activist “dies in his prison”

The document said that the decision came as a supplement to “the reforms and developments achieved in the field of human rights in the Kingdom that came under the guidance of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and under the direct supervision and follow-up of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

Activists say Saudi Arabia has one of the worst human rights records in the world, accusing it of severely suppressing freedom of expression and subjecting regime opponents to arbitrary detention.

Since Muhammad bin Salman took over the reign of the Covenant, he has taken several measures to improve the image of the kingdom.

Saudi women were allowed to enter football fields for the first time in January 2018, the same year that the kingdom ended a decades-old ban on women driving.

Another year witnessed another development when a royal decree allowed Saudi women to travel abroad without the permission of a guardian, as well as cancel the separation of women in restaurants.

However, many prominent women human rights defenders have been arrested even after the government made reforms.

The BBC’s Middle East affairs editor says the last time flogging punished in the headlines around the world was several years ago in the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was punished with flogging in front of the public, which led to a state of criticism and anger around the world.

The Saudi authorities responded and did not complete the punishment, especially since Badawi almost died from flogging.

Source:https:saudi24.news/