The Saudi Arabia Human Rights Commission president Awwad Alawwad has announced that the country has abolished the death penalty for offenses committed by minors. This announcement was made after fogging was abolished earlier on to improve on the country’s human rights records.
“Instead, the individual will receive a prison sentence of no longer than 10 years in a juvenile detention facility,” the statement said.
Human rights organization Amnesty International lists Saudi Arabia as one of the world’s most prolific executioners, after Iran and China. In its latest report, it said the kingdom had executed 184 people in 2019, including at least one person charged with a crime committed as a minor.
Capital punishment for crimes committed by people under the age of 18 runs contrary to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child which Saudi Arabia has ratified.
“This is an important day for Saudi Arabia. The decree helps us in establishing a more modern penal code and demonstrates the kingdom’s commitment to following through on key reforms across all sectors of our country.” Awwad Alawwad said.
