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| Saudi Arabian paralysis sentence 'grotesque', says Foreign Office | Saudi Arabian paralysis sentence 'grotesque', says Foreign Office |
| (4 months later) | |
| The reported sentencing to paralysis for a Saudi man for a crime he committed as a 14-year-old has been condemned as "grotesque" by the Foreign Office. | The reported sentencing to paralysis for a Saudi man for a crime he committed as a 14-year-old has been condemned as "grotesque" by the Foreign Office. |
| The punishment, which was reportedly handed down to 24-year-old Ali al-Khawahir for stabbing his friend in the back 10 years ago, should not be carried out, the FCO said. | The punishment, which was reportedly handed down to 24-year-old Ali al-Khawahir for stabbing his friend in the back 10 years ago, should not be carried out, the FCO said. |
| Khawahir will be paralysed from the waist down unless he pays 1m Saudi riyals (£177,000) in compensation to the victim, according to Amnesty International, who quoted reports in Saudi Arabian media. | Khawahir will be paralysed from the waist down unless he pays 1m Saudi riyals (£177,000) in compensation to the victim, according to Amnesty International, who quoted reports in Saudi Arabian media. |
| An FCO spokesman said: "We are deeply concerned by reports that a Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a man to be paralysed in retribution for causing the paralysis of a friend when he was 14 years old. | An FCO spokesman said: "We are deeply concerned by reports that a Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a man to be paralysed in retribution for causing the paralysis of a friend when he was 14 years old. |
| "We urge the Saudi authorities to ensure that this grotesque punishment is not carried out. Such practices are prohibited under international law and have no place in any society." | "We urge the Saudi authorities to ensure that this grotesque punishment is not carried out. Such practices are prohibited under international law and have no place in any society." |
| Amnesty condemned the punishment as "utterly shocking". | Amnesty condemned the punishment as "utterly shocking". |
| A similar sentence of paralysis imposed in Saudi Arabia in 2010 is not known to have been carried out, the charity said. | A similar sentence of paralysis imposed in Saudi Arabia in 2010 is not known to have been carried out, the charity said. |
| If implemented, the paralysis sentence would contravene the UN convention against torture and the principles of medical ethics adopted by the UN general assembly, Amnesty said. | If implemented, the paralysis sentence would contravene the UN convention against torture and the principles of medical ethics adopted by the UN general assembly, Amnesty said. |
| Ann Harrison, the charity's Middle East and north Africa deputy director, said: "Paralysing someone as punishment for a crime would be torture. That such a punishment might be implemented is utterly shocking, even in a context where flogging is frequently imposed as a punishment for some offences, as happens in Saudi Arabia. | Ann Harrison, the charity's Middle East and north Africa deputy director, said: "Paralysing someone as punishment for a crime would be torture. That such a punishment might be implemented is utterly shocking, even in a context where flogging is frequently imposed as a punishment for some offences, as happens in Saudi Arabia. |
| "It is time the authorities in Saudi Arabia start respecting their international legal obligations and remove these terrible punishments from the law." | "It is time the authorities in Saudi Arabia start respecting their international legal obligations and remove these terrible punishments from the law." |
| Saudi courts regularly sentence people to forms of corporal punishment, according to the charity. In retribution cases, sentences have included eye-gouging, tooth extraction and death. | Saudi courts regularly sentence people to forms of corporal punishment, according to the charity. In retribution cases, sentences have included eye-gouging, tooth extraction and death. |
| In such cases, the victim can demand the punishment be carried out, request financial compensation or grant a conditional or unconditional pardon. | In such cases, the victim can demand the punishment be carried out, request financial compensation or grant a conditional or unconditional pardon. |
| Flogging is mandatory for a number of offences and can also be imposed at the discretion of judges as an alternative, or in addition to other punishments, Amnesty said. | Flogging is mandatory for a number of offences and can also be imposed at the discretion of judges as an alternative, or in addition to other punishments, Amnesty said. |
| Thieves are often sentenced to amputation of the right hand, while "highway robbery" is punished by cross amputation – cutting off the right hand and the left foot. | Thieves are often sentenced to amputation of the right hand, while "highway robbery" is punished by cross amputation – cutting off the right hand and the left foot. |
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