Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution has referred for review death sentences issued against three men who were previously convicted of crimes they committed when they were minors, local media has reported.
Ali Al Nimr, Dawood Al Marhoon and Abdullah Al Zaher had earlier been convicted and handed a death sentence for terrorism-related crimes they committed before reaching 18 years.
Awwad Al Awwad, President of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), said: “The decision to review these sentences marks an important step in reforming the legal system and advancing human rights in the Kingdom.”
“These reforms are important not just in changes to the legal code, but also in actions,” he added.
According to the Royal Order issued earlier this year, all authorities have been mandated to halt application of the death penalty for those convicted of crimes committed while they were minors.
Authorities are instructed to review such cases, and re-sentence individuals based on the Saudi Juvenile Law.
Saudi Juvenile Law stipulates that the maximum sentence for anyone convicted of a crime committed while he or she was a minor is 10 years.
The sentence should be served in a juvenile detention facility. Further, the Royal Order requires that minors who have already served 10 or more years will be released upon review of their case.
“The Juvenile Law is a progressive law, designed to punish wrongdoing as well as provide stronger protection for our youth,” Al Awwad said.
“The Royal Order to abolish the use of the death penalty in these cases is comprehensive. And it applies retroactively, even in criminal cases adjudicated before its introduction.”
Saudi Arabia has enacted more than 70 reforms related to human rights in the Kingdom in the last five years, touching on everything from the rights of women and labourers to improved access to health, education and vital public services.
Human rights are a key pillar of the Vision 2030 platform for transformation led by the Custodian King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
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