Saudi Arabia ends capital punishment for minors

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Saudi Arabia ends capital punishment for minors

Brianna Bell | U. Pittsburgh School of Law, US

April 28, 2020 11:23:20 am

Saudi Arabia issued a royal decree Sunday ending the death penalty for individuals convicted of crimes when they were minors. This decree could prevent six men from receiving the death penalty.

According to Amnesty International, in 2019, Saudi Arabia put 184 people to death, the highest number on record.

The President of the Human Rights Commission, Awwad Alawwad, celebrated the royal decree saying this measure is indicative of “critical human rights reforms.”

The royal decree comes days after the Supreme Court abolished flogging as a form of punishment.

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