The Minister of Justice, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Sheikh Walid bin Muhammad Al-Samaani, issued a circular to all courts in Saudi Arabia to implement the decision issued by the Supreme Court to abolish flogging as a form of punishment.

The circular includes that in the context of punitive punishments, the courts must be satisfied with imprisonment or a fine, or both, or alternate penalties, as issued to flogging in line with the regulations or decisions in this regard from higher authorities

- The circular clarified that this principle was approved after studying the General Authority of the Supreme Court of Punitive Punishment and its Consequential Effects, and in accordance with the jurisdiction of the court contained in Article 13 of the Judicial System regulating the competencies of the General Authority of the Supreme Court, including: “Determination of general principles in matters related to the judiciary.”

- The President of the Human Rights Commission Dr. Awwad Al Awwad has welcomed the decision of "End of Flogging as form of punishment in Saudi Arabia" made by the Justice Minister. The Kingdom has also issued a Royal decree in ending the application of the death penalty for those who committed crimes while they were minors. 

SOURCE : SAUDI EXPATRIATES