Saudi Arabia has denied that one of its courts issued a sentence to have a defendant paralyzed on an “eye for eye” basis after he crippled another man by stabbing him in the back during a fight nearly 10 years ago.
The Ministry of Justice said reports by international media that the court in the capital Riyadh had issued such a sentence are “incorrect.”
Reports had earlier said that the defendant’s family was ordered pay out $266,000 or have their son face that sentence, which was also slammed by Amnesty International.
Ali Al-Khawaher, 24, stabbed his friend in the back when he was 14, putting the victim in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Islamic Sharia law, which is enforced in Saudi Arabia, allows for ‘eye-for-an-eye’ punishment in such cases, or monetary compensation for the victim.
“The judge has already dismissed this punishment …. We urge all to be accurate before making such reports which harm them before the others,” the Justice Minister said on its Twitter page, according to Saudi newspapers.
“We regret that these reports are circulated by parties claiming to be supporting human rights when the principles of such activities stipulate accuracy and truth.”
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