Saudi court comes under fire for lashes sentence

Manama: A decision by a Saudi court to punish a Palestinian woman with 60 lashes and her daughter with 30 lashes has triggered an intense online debate between supporters and opponents.

The court in the city of Taef said that the mother would receive the lashes for accusing an employee of taking a bribe. She will also have to write a formal apology to the office clerk, the court said.

The two women were reportedly referred to the public prosecutor for not respecting the employees at the court and the verdict insisted that they must adhere to orderly public conduct while dealing with government departments, local daily Okaz reported on Sunday.

They were given 30 days to challenge the court decision and lodge an appeal.

Writing under the moniker “Pen of the Truth”, a blogger said that the punishment was “too harsh.”

“Even if this Palestinian mother and her daughter were wrong and deserve to be punished, they should not receive lashes,” the blogger said. “There should be a different form of action. I reject this form of punishment, particularly that women must not be humiliated and should be treated with greater respect.”

Abu Al Majd said that judges should be more lenient with women.

“There can be pledges or limited detentions, but no need for lashes in cases such as these,” he posted.

However, other bloggers lauded the court for protecting people’s rights, regardless of the name, gender or nationality of the culprit.

Bander, a blogger, said that the judge should have made it 100 lashes.

“In fact, he should also deport the mother and daughter to Gaza so that they appreciate better their conditions in Saudi Arabia and learn not to cause public disorder in august places,” he said in remarks carried by Saudi news site Al Marsad.

Abu Fahd said that people who did not respect themselves and others should assume the consequences of their behaviour.

“According to the report, the women not only did not show respect, but also accused an officer of corruption,” he said. “This is a grave accusation and the punishment should be really severe.”