Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court on Saturday April 25, announced that it has abolished flogging as a form of punishment.
The Supreme Court which said the recent development is intended to “bring the kingdom into line with international human rights norms against corporal punishment”, added that it is part of reforms pushed by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and his son, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
Judges in the country will now have to choose between fines and/or jail sentences or non-custodial alternatives like community service.
AFP reported that the abolition of corporal punishment in Saudi Arabia comes just days after the kingdom’s human rights record was again in the spotlight, following news of the death from a stroke in custody of leading activist Abullah al-Hamid, 69.