Saudi paralysis sentencing

thepharcyde · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:09

heard this on Radio 4 tonight

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22029881

The UK has urged Saudi Arabia not to carry out a reported sentencing of paralysis for a Saudi man as punishment for paralysing another man.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said London was "deeply concerned" by the sentence, describing it as "grotesque".

Such punishment was "prohibited under international law", the official added.

Saudi media reports earlier said the 24-year-old man could be paralysed from the waist down if he could not pay his victim £250,000 in compensation.

Ali al-Khawahir was 14 when he stabbed a friend in the back in the Eastern Province town of al-Ahsa. He has been in prison for 10 years.

The judge in the case has reportedly interpreted the Islamic law of qisas, or retribution, that Saudi Arabia follows as meaning that he in turn could face being paralysed.

Amnesty International has described this as tantamount to torture.

The sentencing is the latest example of Saudi Arabia's fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law attracting international criticism.

BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's comments mark an unusually strong plea to the Saudi authorities in what is, by any standards an unusual and disturbing case.

Successive British governments have struggled at times to harmonise their concerns about human rights in Saudi Arabia with the fact that the Kingdom remains a key ally and a major customer for British weaponry, he adds.

Goberpiles316 · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:12

Maybe Saudi Arabia should urge the UK to actually give people punishments in this country instead of the light hearted approach we take to it currently.

scorza · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:13

Well one thing's for sure, he's going to find it difficult to stab anyone else once he's paralysed from the waist down. Wish people would stop going on about international law, it's a joke.

Nymins · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:18

Idiots. He stabbed someone, did 10 years. Why is he getting further punishment? He did the crime and did the time.

atpbx · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:23

One, I don't care, its happening in Saudi Arabia.

Two, I don't care, its happening to some **** who stabbed his mate in the back.

shoes · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:23

In all fairness he gave his victim a life sentence....

G-MAN2004 · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:24

He's already served 10 years. If further punishment is needed, then just keep him imprisoned. Awful country.

Yas786 · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:27

Goberpiles316 said:
Maybe Saudi Arabia should urge the UK to actually give people punishments in this country instead of the light hearted approach we take to it currently.

LOL

scorza · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:27

Nymins said:
Idiots. He stabbed someone, did 10 years. Why is he getting further punishment? He did the crime and did the time.

His victim got paralysed for life, not for 10 years.

Nymins · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:30

scorza said:
His victim got paralysed for life, not for 10 years.

And? What does that have to do with anything?

E61 Grouphead · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:30

BBC News said:
Saudi media reports earlier said the 24-year-old man could be paralysed from the waist down if he could not pay his victim £250,000 in compensation.

There just isn't a 'rolleyes' big enough for this.

wire-screw · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:31

scorza said:
His victim got paralysed for life, not for 10 years.

So you should take someones life for something they did when they were 14?

Pigeon_Killer · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:31

Goberpiles316 said:
Maybe Saudi Arabia should urge the UK to actually give people punishments in this country instead of the light hearted approach we take to it currently.

This

Destination · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:33

Goberpiles316 said:
Maybe Saudi Arabia should urge the UK to actually give people punishments in this country instead of the light hearted approach we take to it currently.

Burn 6 of your kids to death, well here, have 17 years but don't worry you'll be out in half...

jumpy · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:35

Barbaric country is barbaric..., even the bahrainis thought the saudi's were animals when I lived out there. At the time there was a lot of bad feeling regarding the building of the causeway bridge from jasra to dahran; and there was trouble, mostly with saudis getting blind drunk and raping hotel waitresses in the toilets.
Par for the course really, the only thing that elevates saudi as a country is it's oil.

scorza · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:37

GSWAudio said:
So you should take someones life for something they did when they were 14?

No but surely you'd agree that the impact of the crime on the victim should be taken into account?

Nymins · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:40

scorza said:
No but surely you'd agree that the impact of the crime on the victim should be taken into account?

It was. He was 14, a juvenile and was given at least 10 years from what we know.

Transam · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:42

If I were the judge, I'd allow the paralysed from the waist down guy to stab the assailant in the back, with the same knife - might paralyse him, might kill him, might just cause him a pretty serious injury. An eye for an eye and all that, not surgically paralysing him.

Nymins · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:44

Transam said:
If I were the judge, I'd allow the paralysed from the waist down guy to stab the assailant in the back, with the same knife - might paralyse him, might kill him, might just cause him a pretty serious injury. An eye for an eye and all that, not surgically paralysing him.

What a barbaric world that would be if everywhere implemented your idea.

scorza · 4 Apr 2013 at 20:45

Nymins said:
It was. He was 14, a juvenile and was given at least 10 years from what we know.

.. and now he might be paralysed as well.