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Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

Saudi Arabia makes move to abolish death penalty for minors

The decision follows another ordering judges to end the practice of flogging.

SAUDI ARABIA’S King Salman has ordered an end to the death penalty for crimes committed by minors, according to a top official.

The decision follows another ordering judges to end the practice of flogging, replacing it with jail terms, fines or community service and bringing one of the kingdom’s most controversial forms of public punishment to an end.

King Salman’s son and heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is seen as the force behind the kingdom’s loosening of restrictions and its pivot away from ultraconservative interpretations of Islamic law known as Wahhabism, which many in the country still closely adhere to.

In the face of some domestic opposition, the crown prince has sought to modernise the country, attract foreign investment and revamp Saudi Arabia’s reputation globally.

He has also overseen a parallel crackdown on liberals, women’s rights activists, writers, moderate clerics and reformers.

The 2018 killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey by agents who worked for the crown prince drew sharp criticism internationally.

The latest royal decree by King Salman will spare the death penalty for at least six men from the country’s minority Shiite community who allegedly committed crimes while under the age of 18, including Ali al-Nimr, who participated in anti-government protests.

Human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have long called on the kingdom to abolish the use of the death penalty, particularly for crimes committed by minors.

The president of the Saudi government’s Human Rights Commission, Awwad Alawwad, confirmed the latest decision in a statement on Sunday, saying it helped the kingdom establish “a more modern penal code and demonstrates the kingdom’s commitment to following through on key reforms”.

He said “more reforms will be coming”, and that the two decisions “reflect how Saudi Arabia is forging ahead in its realisation of critical human rights reforms even amid the hardship imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic”.

The decree expands on a previous order by King Salman issued in late 2018, which set a maximum 10-year prison term for minors in certain cases, except for crimes punishable by death. Now the 10-year maximum applies to all crimes by minors. 

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    Mute Rob Gale
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    Apr 17th 2022, 3:21 PM

    The ironic thing is, had Michàel Martin being around in 1916 he’d condemn the rising and all who took part.

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    Mute Mark Harrison
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    Apr 17th 2022, 3:43 PM

    @Rob Gale: yes..agree..he would have labelled them as terrorists ..

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    Mute Eire
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    Apr 17th 2022, 4:34 PM

    @Rob Gale: mehole is a Langer & that’s putting mildly

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    Mute John Byrne
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:00 PM

    @Rob Gale: and if my aunty had liathróidí she’d be my uncle. Most of the blood sacrifice was done by ordinary citizens

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    Mute Rory
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:27 PM

    @Mark Harrison: why would you say that.

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    Mute Richard Ahern
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:55 PM

    @Rob Gale: Having studied that period of time, some years ago, that was the feeling of the majority of Irish people at the time; terrorists in action. I can understand that fully. Move forward to more recent years and consider the regular comments regarding how we (ROI) should have this, that or the other (health service and so on) because they have it in the UK. The reality is we can’t have what UK citizens have because of economies of scale. Should we consider becoming part of a greater whole again? Maybe we should look at it. We ain’t doing too well on our own, what with huge financial debt and no need to mention that hospital situation.

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    Mute Fergus Quinlan
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    Apr 17th 2022, 11:03 PM

    @Rob Gale: they would have been regarded as terrorists and the UK would call in the US to but Down the notion of a self declared Republic….!!

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    Mute Mick
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:25 AM

    @Rob Gale: Lessons have to be learned!!!

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    Mute Rob Gale
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    Apr 18th 2022, 11:05 AM

    @Richard Ahern: I have a theory on that. I don’t think it’s to do with economies of scale. Look at Denmark with the same population and how they’re performing. One of many examples. Ok so, agreed, we have not done well running our own shop. And seem to still look to pass it off to others (first the church, then Europe more recently). But I think it’s because we have never had money as a people. For centuries. So once there’s money in the mix, like public finances, we don’t know how to responsibly manage it or deal with it. So there’s an instinct to feather you’re own nest and the people close to you. So then we’re left with deep corruption in every institution. If you look at any body in ireland it’ll be corrupt to the core. And that’s how ya end up with the wrong people in charge.

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    Mute Madra
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    Apr 17th 2022, 7:30 AM

    Have a wonderful Easter one and all.

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    Mute The Ghost of Micheal Collins
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    Apr 17th 2022, 10:54 AM

    What they undertook to do
    They brought to pass;
    All things hang like a drop of dew
    Upon a blade of grass.

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    Mute Gary ODonnell
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    Apr 17th 2022, 11:32 AM

    Why do they have the reading of the proclamation on Easter Sunday when the rising didn’t take place until Easter Monday?

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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    Apr 17th 2022, 12:22 PM

    @Gary ODonnell: Maybe it’s handy. I suppose the inportant thing is that the event is commemorated annually and the Easter date moves around anyway.

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    Mute Paul Shepherd
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    Apr 17th 2022, 3:37 PM

    @Gary ODonnell: why is Patricks Day celebrated on March 17th for a person who never existed?

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    Mute Garbhán Ó Ruis
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:54 PM

    @Paul Shepherd: We have St. Patrick’s writings. Many things about what he did may be debated, but the evidence for his existence is not in doubt.

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    Mute Sequoia
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    Apr 17th 2022, 9:05 PM

    @Gary ODonnell:

    It also didn’t occur until April 24th which is when it should be marked.

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Apr 17th 2022, 10:11 PM

    @Paul Shepherd: Thats what sets the irish apart.

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Apr 17th 2022, 1:33 PM

    Will the #IrishAirCorps be using Green & Orange dye or has that been banned.

    https://www.accas.info/?p=2820

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    Mute v39e84kK
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:50 PM

    Attending events is the pinnacle of their skillset.

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    Mute Colm O'Leary
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    Apr 17th 2022, 1:02 PM

    The elastic band will be out in force today!!!

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    Mute Paul Byrne
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    Apr 17th 2022, 5:29 PM

    Was it poppy day

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Apr 17th 2022, 8:06 PM
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    Mute Rory
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    Apr 18th 2022, 12:03 AM
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