Saturday, October 03, 2009
In Saudi, crimes are punished harshly
Flogging is a beating with a whip or rod, with blows commonly directed to the person’s back. It is imposed to maintain discipline in schools, prisons, military forces, and private homes.
A throng of people at the foot of Corniche Alkhobar overpass surprised us last Tuesday, 29 September. Such a gathering meant only two things: a vehicular accident or a public show. The next day I read in the newspaper that the Saudi Religious Police flogged the teenagers who caused the Corniche mayhem during the Saudi National Day. (Read Siraj Wahab and Molouk Y Ba-Isa's news report: Dozen teens flogged for role in rampage, Arab News, 30 Sept 2009).You see, in Saudi, convicted criminals are punished by a combination of jailterm, flogging or stoning -- or, depending on the gravity of the crime, beheading. I've been in Saudi Arabia for too long and I haven't witnessed neither a public beheading nor flogging. (Not that I intend to nor am interested in).
These punishments may appear too harsh to most people outside Saudi and others are claiming that there is no legal or Islamic basis for such sentencing but it's been in Saudi's legal system for a long time.
In Saudi, flogging is part of a judicial system and a mandatory punishment for some minor and most major crimes.
Today, I read a column by Tariq A Al Maeena at Arab News stating why we should all be flogged. Actually, what Tariq was saying is that it's the parents of the children who should be flogged so that "the rest of us would pay more attention to our own shortcomings that lead our children to activities that do no good to them as individuals or us as a nation." Tariq was referring to those Saudi youths who vandalized and rioted at Corniche Alkhobar.Court judges mete out the punishment of flogging "in accordance with (the judge's) discretion and the interpretation of the Qur'an and Sunnah", wrote Noura Abdul Al Khereiji in her article 'Government Must Codify Taaziri Punishment Rules' (Arab News, 25 May 2008).
"This is in order to discourage people from committing sins and crimes for which the Shariah ordains no specific punishment".
Flogging sentences in Saudi Arabia "can range from dozens to thousands of lashes, and are usually carried out in instalments, at intervals ranging from two weeks to one month" (Amnesty International). Crimes that mete out flogging include consumption of alcohol, prostitution, acts of lasciviousness, homosexuality, etc.
Noura wrote that the ills of flogging arise when "different punishments are given for the same offense" depending "on the mood and temperament of the judge in charge and his personal views on matters that contradict Shariah teachings".
"Enough is enough for this humiliating punishment of lashes", she concluded.
The most celebrated flogging case I've heard during the past years is that of a 19-year old rape victim who was sentenced to get 200 lashes for "being in the car with an unrelated male at the time of the rape" (sourced from Daily Telegraph, Nov 2007)
Amnesty International claim that the punishment of flogging (as well as stoning and beheading) is "inconsistent with Saudi Arabia’s obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment".
I also don't agree with these harsh punishments but I cannot circumvent from Saudi laws and regulations just because I don't agree with its punishments. I am in Saudi and therefore has to follow its rules.
I also don't suggest that we impose such harsh punishments in the Philippines. It will be difficult to run a government with headless officials (no pun intended).
On the other hand...
I won't mind if we publicly flog one or two guilty government officials just to make a point. As long we do it judiciously. And yes, let's include those kidnap-for-ransom criminals, the heinous crime perpetrators, the Abu Sayyaf, the illegal recruiters and the drug dealers.
I am always a pro-life advocate and have been against capital punishment because it is unhuman and records shows that it doesn't and never deter crime rates.
However I respect the norms and cultures of KSA and other Middle East countries based on their faith and Holy Koran.
Our country has enough laws to punish the criminals however, the problem lies on its implementation, the criminal justice has been so slow, tainted with graft and corruption, "tang na loob" leading to protectionism from the DoJ, favoring the elite, the powerful and the politicians.
Effective justice system resides in the hands of law enforcers and the people in the court justices.
This is there country and their laws. all we have to do is follow.
Pope - SAna maging fair ang ating bansa sa pag implement ng laws. sakit isipin na ang maliliit na crimes ay nakikita but the big fishes nakakawala.
In Saudi, there's no excuse. People respect and follow the laws. If we have the same criminal laws in the Philippines, at walang mga ipokritang mga Pari at Madre, siguro meron pang death penalty. At kung merong death penalty siguro wala ng mga kriminal at kawatan sa lansangan natin.
Hi Nebz,
So nahuli pala. One thing that I appreciate in Saudi is their quick solution sa bawat kaso. Honestly, we make a blog entry about a couple of years ago that says, we feel safe here rather than living anywhere as long as you follow the rules, and obey the laws.
I remember a teacher flogged inside IPSA...tsk tsk
Tama si Pope. We don't need more laws to punish perpetrators. What we need are more guts to implement existing laws. Sadly, we have two versions of a law in the Philippines: one for the rich and powerful and another for the poor.
In the Philippines, the laws are regarded as mere 'suggestions', no teeth at all. (Or if it has, will only grip the guiltless poor and the guiltless weak; never the corrupt rich and powerful).
thanks for your post at nasagot na ang mga katanungan kung ano na ang nagyari sa alkhobar riot.pero problema pa rin sa kompanya namin nawawala ung mga files na nsa computer na ninakaw nila sana isauli nila lol
nasa tao rin yan,pero dapat panagutan ng kaukulang batas. kung anu man ang batas ng isang lugar.
at syempre di lahat ng batas ay tama rin..meron din baluktot at yun yung sinasabi nila pope at blogusvox..batas para sa mahirap at batas ng mayaman.ito ang batas na maraming butas!
I've worked in Saudi Arabia before and have also followed their laws not for fear of their punishments but because that's just the right thing to do. Saudi Arabia is a sovereign state, so no matter what Amnesty International says, it's their own set of laws. And they do work.
Hindi ako sang-ayon sa ganitong uri ng kaparusahan. Kulong nalang. Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang pagpupugot! Life is very precious!
Pero sige kung sa Pilipinas may batas at mga kaparusahang tulad nito, malabo rin sigurong maparusahan ang mga taong tinutukoy niyo rito sa post niyo. Ayusin muna ang sistema ng judicial proceedings o kung ano mang dapat gawin prior... Parang hindi nga mahuli ang mga totoong mga suspects, at matagal ang mga hatol. Huh. Tama na 'to. Maraming magagalit sa akin.
dito sa bansa natin, i dont believe na magiging angkop.. or nararapat na maging ganyan ang punishment... regardless din naman kasi kugn anong panusihment meron ang pilipinas, it really doesnt matter.. why? kase may pinapanigan ang batas dito.. kung wala kang pera, sorry ka.. most likely ung mga walang pera ang mapaparusahan although sila tong gma walang alam.. mga inosente..
Honestly I really find that so barbaric and inhuman:-( I have never seen one and Im not sure If I have the courage to watch one....but anyways as the saying goes "when in rome do as the romans do"..respect na lang their tradition :-)
if we flog or beheaded govt officials in Phils, no one will run the government, lol! sa dami nila!
i think as punishment is for them not to run any govt offices, anymore, including their kins and descendants. Out casting them them from govt position, for ten years is another disciplinary action.
that teaches them.
But its my one vote against many, so I will not get what I desire.
Tama ka Nebz pag inimplement ang batas ng Saudi sa Pilipinas maraming mga pulitiko wala ng ulo hahaha.....you're so funny Nebz....masyadong strict talaga dyan sa Saudi pero kung susunod ka naman walang problema nga.
what happened in corniche was scary.they attack the western food outlet/stores.and i heard this kids are rich kids who just want to do some trippings..still the law is too harsh.pero kanya kanyang batas nalang siguro yan..and what about the flogging incident in IPSA..i didnt know they can do that on a international school?!