Abdullah Al-Jamili

Al Madina

 

Saudi law has seen major and comprehensive development over the past years. The development program of the late King Abdullah proved to be effective as specialized courts were set up, the process of issuing verdicts was expedited and modern technology was utilized in all services including litigation.



A program was launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior to allow judges to hold remote trials through modern means of communication.



However, these developments are not enough and more needs to be done to better the Kingdom’s judiciary.



There are two important issues that concern citizens and preoccupy their minds. One is that different verdicts are often issued for similar cases.



The reason for this is that a verdict is based on a judge’s discretion. The solution for this lies in unifying the verdicts of similar cases.



This issue was the focus of attention of the Kingdom’s founder, King Abdulaziz. It has been tackled at different times over the years but nothing has been done about it.



Resolving this issue would enhance the system of justice and increase the integrity and transparency of the Kingdom’s judiciary.



The other issue is related to prison sentences handed out for some minor offenses involving young men and women as well as teenagers of both genders.



These sentences may have a negative social and economic effect on the individuals involved  and on society in general.



Spending time in prison and intermingling with hardened criminals may result in those who have committed minor offenses going on to commit more serious crimes once they are released from prison. 



Most countries give alternative sentences to those who have committed petty crimes so that they can serve the public and society by, for example, working in hospitals and charities.



Of course, this does not mean we should be lenient with criminals. Not at all. We need a comprehensive program to outline alternative sentences and to monitor the mechanisms adopted for issuing such sentences.



The ministries of Justice and Social Affairs should work together to come up with this program. Experts in education and psychology should participate in this program as well.



Al-Jazirah daily recently reported that a judge in Buraidah sentenced three sheep thieves to 50 lashes and three months in prison.



Because the thieves were teenagers, the judge, named Sheikh Ibrahim Sulaiman Al-Qafari, decided to suspend the sentences and ordered them to spend the last ten days of Ramadan at a mosque and to memorize two chapters of the Holy Qur’an.



A mosque imam was asked to monitor them and ensure they complied with the alternative sentence. Let us remember that punishment is aimed at reforming society.