Saudi Arabia Repeals Flogging As Punishment

The Government of Saudi Arabia has repealed its court-enforced floggings as enshrined in the country's laws, this is one in a series of “human rights advances” by Saudi's king and his son.

The punishment of flogging has long been decried by  human right organisations for its confliction with human rights laws across the world.

According to the country's supreme court, the latest reform intends to “bring the kingdom into line with international human rights norms against corporal punishment."

The courts, prior to the abolishment, could direct that convicts be flogged for varying offences like extramarital sex, murder and the instigating of an unrest.

Moving forward, courts will now have to order the payment of fines and/or jail sentences or community service as penalties for offenders.

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A recent victim of the flogging penalty was a prominent Saudi blogger, Raif Badawi, who got a ten-year sentence and 1,000 lashes for "insulting" Islam in 2014.

The abrogation of the law comes after Saudi Arabia came under the fire for the death of a 69-year-old activist, Abullah al-Hamid, after he died from a stroke while in custody.

Abullah was one of the founding members of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), and got an 11-year sentence in 2013, this is according to campaigners.

He was charged with “breaking allegiance” to the king, and “inciting disorder” in the state in a bid to disturb n the security in the state.

Saudi Arabia's human rights violations have been heavily criticised ever since Prince Mohammed, heir to the throne, was named crown prince in 2017.