Saudi judge considers paralysis punishment
Judge asks hospitals whether they could damage a man's spinal cord as punishment for attacking another man with a cleaver and paralyzing him.
By The Associated Press Tags: Israel news Saudi ArabiaA Saudi judge has asked several hospitals in the country whether they could damage a man's spinal cord as punishment after he was convicted of attacking another man with a cleaver and paralyzing him, the brother of the victim said Thursday.
Abdul-Aziz al-Mutairi, 22, was left paralyzed and subsequently lost a foot after a fight more than two years ago. He asked a judge in northwestern Tabuk province to impose an equivalent punishment on his attacker under Islamic law, his brother Khaled al-Mutairi said by telephone from there.
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Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |
| Photo by: AP |
He said one of the hospitals, located in Tabuk, responded that it is possible to damage the spinal cord, but it added that the operation would have to be done at another more specialized facility. Saudi newspapers reported that a second hospital in the capital Riyadh declined, saying it could not inflict such harm.
Administrative offices of two of the hospitals and the court in Tabuk were closed for the Saudi weekend beginning Thursday and could not be reached for comment.
A copy of the medical report from the King Khaled Hospital in Tabuk province obtained by the AP said the same injury al-Mutairi suffers from can be inflicted on his attacker using a nerve stimulant, and inducing the same injuries in the same locations. The report was dated six months ago.
Saudi Arabia enforces strict Islamic law and occasionally doles out punishments based on the ancient legal code of an eye-for-an-eye. However, King Abdullah has been trying to clamp down on extremist ideology, including unauthorized clerics issuing odd religious decrees.
The query by the court, among the most unusual and extreme to have been made public in the kingdom, highlights the delicate attempt in Saudi Arabia to balance a push to modernize the country with interpretations of religious traditions that critics say are out of sync with a modern society.
The Saudi newspaper Okaz identified the judge as Saoud bin Suleiman al-Youssef.
The brother said the judge asked at least two hospitals for a medical opinion on whether surgeons could render the attacker's spinal cord nonfunctional. He and Saudi newspaper reports did not identify the attacker
Khaled al-Mutairi, 27, said the assailant was sentenced to 14 months in prison for the attack that paralyzed his younger brother, but he was released after seven months in an amnesty. He said the attacker then got a job as a school teacher .
"We are asking for our legal right under Islamic law," the brother said. "There is no better word than God's word - an eye for an eye."
A Saudi newspaper Okaz reported that a leading hospital in Riyadh - King Faisal Specialist Hospital - responded that it could not do the operation. It quoted a letter from the hospital saying "inflicting such harm is not possible," apparently refusing on ethical grounds.
Islamic law applied in Saudi Arabia allows defendants to ask for a similar punishment for harms inflicted on them. Cutting off the hands of thieves, for example, is common.
Under the law, the victim can receive a blood money to settle the case.
Khaled al-Mutairi said his family is not interested in blood money, and would be ready to send the attacker abroad to perform the operation if it were not possible in the kingdom.
Human rights group say trials in Saudi Arabia fall far below international standards. They usually take place behind closed doors and without adequate legal representation.
Those who are sentenced to death are often not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them or of the date of execution until the morning on which they are taken out and beheaded.
Crucifying the headless body in a public place is a way to set an example, according to the kingdom's strict interpretation of Islam.
Amnesty International expressed concerns over the reports and said the rights group was contacting Saudi authorities for details.
"We are very concerned and we will appeal to the authorities not to carry out such a punishment," said Lamri Chirouf, the group's researcher on Saudi Arabia. Such measures are against international conventions against torture and international standards on human rights.
Chirouf said this was the first time Amnesty had heard of a punishment involving the damaging of a spinal cord.
"But it's hard to follow details of the Saudi justice system. People are sentenced in closed trials with no access to the public and no lawyers," he said.
According to Amnesty, in 2005, a convict in the kingdom had his teeth pulled out by a dentist because he had smashed another man's teeth out in a fight.
"We have also had cases of people sentenced to blindness because they have caused the blindness of another person," Chirouf said. "But never anything involving a spinal cord."
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Hallooooooa
What about the Hypocratic oath ? I assumed this was a universal oath by doctors NOT to cause harm. Sick.
So the Saudis want to advance their horrific take on lex talionis by having their docgtors cut a criminal's spinal cord -- exactly what the monsters of Hamas would do if they possessed the right medical knowledge. Thusfar, alas, their leadership is limited to pediatricians whose hippocratic oath only extends to dispatching child and female suicide bombers. It's always nice to know who the leftists support and consider as their kindred spirits in this neck of the woods. Islam, socialism, anti-semitism -- it's all one disgusting basket nowadays.
I support Islamic Shariah but this is yet another example of dangerous Wahabi Extreme intepretatuions, I have huge concerns because other people with this man who paralyzed the victim was given only a couple years in jail and early release to paralyze a man when his partner got a few months is abhorrant and not justice. Any doctor who does this act is NOT a real Doctor like those in Riyadh who refused this barbarism. They are real doctors, Doctors have a duty and swear an pleadge, I use to work in Health care until I became disabled, this story makes me sick to the bones, Doctors make the promise before taking office to serve and protect the health of people in their community. That they should do all that is possible to help ease the pain and problems of patients, any doctor who inflicts harm intentionally is NOT a doctor, this just cements my huge disliking towards the sell out Materialist Capitalist scumbags in the saudi elite. Islam demands compassion and the Prophet (saw) demanded us to be MODERATE not EXTREME. This is NOT moderation and compassion, I AM ACTUALLY TURNING AGAINST THE VICTIMS FAMILY FOR THEIR CRAP EXTREMIST VIEWS. I am Muslim and no1 will remove this glorious truth from me, I support Ilslamic Shariah that eliminates personal will and cultural traditions as evil, I support Moderate Islamic Shariah, i have defended so much including death penalty and amputations in the rear occaision, I even support fair retribution to a degree, but this act is beyond the realms of normality and this will result in Allah punishing the judge, the royals for not stepping in as He will punish the violent offender.
"The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children " - Rabbi Manis Friedman
This Judge deserves our praise for showing us the seet ways of Islam uncorrupted by the 21st century. This is the true face of every faithful Muslim.
Both the Brutality of Saudi Arabia & Germany,.. 1921-1945 Same !
This is of course Torah law: an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. But Jewish law, in case of bodily injury, does not interprete the law in this leteral way, that if you intentionally blind someone, then they have the right to take out your eye. Jewish law interpreted it in a sense that might be closer to the concept of "blood money". The offender is obligated to compensate the victim for what he had lost by his injury. If he was a goldsmith whose work was very dependent on very close eye work and he had been blinded or had his more useful hand damaged so that he could no longer work, he had to be compensated for loosing his livlihood. Perhaps one of the schools of Islamic law has a similar interpretation. Any experts in Islamic law out there who might know? As for cutting off hands of thieves, this too is different from Jewish law which has no death penalty for personal or monetary crimes. The only case where a part of the body is allowed to be damaged is the Hebrew slave who chooses to refuse his freedom and stay with his master. In this case, an awl is driven through his earlobe into the doorpost of the master's house.
where is Amnesty, where are the human rights activist? why dont the activists just go to saudi arabia to lobby against such barbaric act ?
Letting the punishment fit the crime is a concept dear to the hearts of the right wing. In Israel this concept has really stood the test of time. If the Palestinians killed some Israeli civilians, then Israel killed some Palestinian civilians. This strategy is still in place even though it has been a while since the Palestinians have killed an Israeli civilian. Israel has enhanced this strategy to include justice metted out "accidently on purpose". This includes being shot with a rubber bullet into the brain, shot in the head with a tear gas cannister, or being run over with a bulldozer. Although these seem a little barbaric to some, Israelis have embraced and cherished the specific incidents when they occurred. Every nation has it's own variety of justice. In Israel the death penalty is not normally applied, but still Israel often administers death as a result of their assassination policy. Often this includes the death of innocent bystanders. As long as those bystanders are not Jews, Israel does not get worked up over them.
...of course the enlightened West and capital punishment are a sight more compassionate, right? C'mon people, every western state has hitmen doing just the same thing. Stop crying.
All I hear are some coughs.
There is indeed a lot of hypocrisy and the application of double standards when it comes to such barbaric acts, but don't accuse Amnesty of silence. Re-read the article.
from the fact that Iran went nuclear yesterday despite the fact that netanyahu made an election pledge no to let this happen Notwithstanding the fact that a central point to this story is the fact that all the medical facilities approached told the Judge to fuck off in polite legaliseb
chariaa of moussa and harun are the same 2 eye for eye ,,, and this allh chariaa 2
is of course that you encourage vidgelanty justice. Sharia law is horrible, however a seven month sentence for inflicting incredible missery, causing pain for several people, the victim and his family?! Had it been a brother of mine i would feel compelled to act...
a rule of law that meets the standards found in the Code of Hammurabi (1790 BC )
Moses ordered one man, who had stolen something, to be burned to death. And he was burned to death. If Jews want to leave their religion because it looks barbarian, it is OKay for them. But don't expect Muslims to do the same.
Aside from Moses/Moussa being your prophet as well it is clear that you have never opened a Bible and have no idea what you are talking about. In Jewish law 'eye for an eye' is purely used to estimate financial compensation and is/was NEVER taken literally. We Jews, unlike our sick cousins, don't relish blood, slit innocent throats, kill girls, send kids on suicide missions, and expect G-d to reward us with 72 intact hymens. UGH!
The bible tells a story, the quran tell people what to do... like a ''lawbook''
The bible tells a story, the quran tell people what to do... like a ''lawbook''
Ever looked at a door and realized it was a wall? I thought not.
and know.what we say is israel should somehow come to terms with its neighbours and that the present direction bodes ill.on the specific issue-israel is much closer to holland,say,than to saudi arabia,it will i hope,one day improve on matters of rabbinical jurisdiction,specially sole jurisdiction.
...between the Muslim world and the West is a fact. We have buried our heads in the sand for far too long!
someone sent me a film of a 6 year old boy who was caught stealing bread. His punishment was to have his arm run over by a truck to leave him with one functioning arm.( which the film showed in graffic detail) And Israel is expected to take their directives from the Saudi Peace plan? Why didn't this boy have bread??? Why are they so vicious with their punishment? Savage in barbarism and their women have no rights whatsoever.
This is a shocking revelation and i hope you have evidence. Islam bans punishing 6 year olds, Shariah law states until a person reaches puberty they cannot be punished and it is haraam sinful to punish anyone who really has a genuine need for food. it is our duty to not punish but to provide bread. My other problem is in Ramadhan Islam demands we show compassion, forgive and pardon an enemy of their evil actions. The Prophet (saw) taught us if you cannot forgive your enemy in the holy month of Ramadhan then Allah will NOT forgive you on your day of judgement.
Pure propaganda. In islam a man or women is not legally reponsible for any of his acts until she (he) reachs the age of 13-14 or puberty. Your film is a fake one any way.
that kid will steal bread again?
i could see why the west moves forward and the arabs seem to be stuck in a time capsule 300 years back. these suadies are the main supporters of terrorism against both USA and Israel not to mention the uncontional support for palestininan terrorist. perhaps the judge needs his spinal cord severed for going along with the idea. how f...en barbaric. arabs! i don't know how to comment on such a rediculous story.
is the most brutal, cruel and immoral fom of punishment, even worse than death. This decision squarely put the Desert Kindom on the same bench with African rebel bands that are accused of war crimes. Schemen Sie sich, meine Herren!
While african rebels "base" their immorality on broken. anarchical socioeconomic systems, the immorality of islamic states is based on the Quran and is well thought through. It is not anarchy which produces the horrible crimes of Islam. All the opposite of anarchy!
After all,would Bambi bow and kiss the hand of the ruler of S.A. if the ruler was similiar to the judciary ?
i would add that while this is shuddering-it is not our problem.which is palestine.and i would say israel has a cordial understanding with saudia and seveal gulf states.
For one thing you know nothing about halakha in which eye for an eye is purely a measure for determining financial compensation. But then a Jew hating bitch like you readily calls black white and white black to suit your nefarious desire for genocide of Jews. As for your pals in Pal -- Hamas is making strong headway in slitting the throats of those who don't toe their Islamic line. jhy not go to Hamastan with your hair uncovered --- and enjoy the gang rape of your Pal buddies before they ditch your body on the beach.
Didn't know you were such a specialist on the "halaka" . Wife of some Neturei Karta honho perhaps ? They'd also say " Not our problem"
Please wake up and smell the coffee dear saudis . We living in the 21st century
Don't western and so-called civilized countries, like the US, impose the death penalty on people that commit murder? Isn't that an eye-for-an-eye type of punishment? How many people on this talkback call for the death penalty to be handed to terrorists who cause the death of innocent civilians? An-eye-for-an-eye is an old biblical idea anyways and is not limitied to Islam!
next yo will punish decapitation with decapitation. Israel should apply to this Saudi court for all the suicide attacks on buses.
next yo will punish decapitation with decapitation. Israel should apply to this Saudi court for all the suicide attacks on buses.
These laws were applied before islam. Yes we confirm them as divine laws. Wether you like them or not. That's it. In SA you have the very lowest crime figures in the worl
to the US!
During dieting blood sugar levels go down and this may lead to impaired brain function. Behaviour similar to that of alcoholics, ... incoherent rambling and logic is not uncommon. The remedy is simple > just give them some food containing carbohydrates.
I never did like Obama and i think its shameful how he bows to the Saudi King. He should have asked him why there are no churches allowed to be built in Saudi Arabian but there are thousands of minarets allowed in Christian America. The Stupid king if he was smart would have known the answer as it is from the koran: Koran [5:45] And we decreed for them in it that: the life for the life, the eye for the eye, the nose for the nose, the ear for the ear, the tooth for the tooth
Bush and many other high ranking Americans are so close with the saudi royals and bin laden family that it makes obama seem like nothing. There are thousands of minarets, synagogues and other places of worshipp in western countries because they are free countries that allow religious freedom and choice of how to live your life.
By all Medical associations but they won't be The usual noisemakers could not care less.
how many protests were there?
Israel uses punishment by hit squad in which people are assassinated and bomber in which a house is destroyed to get one person in it. If that doesn't bother you, why does this?