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Saudi Arabia abolishes death penalty for minors, NGOs remain cautious

2020-04-28T08:53:24.218Z


"Although the announced changes are a big step forward, there are questions about their implementation," Human Rights Watch said.


Human rights activists cautiously welcomed the announcement by Saudi Arabia of the abolition of the death penalty for minors and flogging on Monday, April 27, noting that there were gray areas in this reform, however.

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Regularly accused of human rights violations by international NGOs, the ultra-conservative kingdom announced on Sunday that it would abolish these punishments, after having executed a record number of people (187) in 2019, according to Amnesty International.

" Although the announced changes are a big step forward, there are questions about their implementation, " said Adam Coogle of the NGO Human Rights Watch, AFP. " The announcement of the abolition of the death penalty for minors and the flogging suggests a flaw (in the reform) which can lead to other punishments for certain crimes, " he regretted.

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Prison sentence not exceeding ten years in juvenile detention center now replaces death penalty, says head of Human Rights Commission, government agency Awad Al-Awad, based on royal decree . But, according to the NGO Reprieve, the reform presents " significant gray areas " allowing prosecutors to " continue to ask for the death penalty against children ". " These are just empty words as long as children remain on death row ," said Maya Foa, head of the NGO.

Not important

There is also the question of the retroactivity of this reform, which could avoid the scaffold of six men from the Shiite Muslim community - a minority in the Sunni kingdom - sentenced to death for participating in anti-government demonstrations when they were minors.

Regarding flogging, Awad Al-Awad said on Sunday that the punishment would be replaced by fines or prison terms. But in cases of apostasy, adultery or rape, flogging can be applied under sharia law, Islamic law, said senior Saudi officials.

" It should also be remembered that dozens of peaceful activists remain imprisoned after receiving sentences in extremely unfair trials, only for campaigning for equality and justice, " said Amnesty International regional director for the Middle East, Heba Morayef, in a statement, welcoming nevertheless a " not important ".

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-04-28

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