Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Umm Al-Qura University is hosting a workshop on alternative punishments, organized by its deanship for scientific research in cooperation with the Social Development Committee at the Emirate of Makkah.

The workshop, held under the support of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, will continue for a couple of days from Wednesday at King Abdul Aziz Historical Hall in the university’s campus in Al-Abdiyah area.

President of Umm Al-Qura Professor Abdullah Bafail said: "The workshop is part of the university’s strategic vision that encourages turning the scientific research output into tangible development projects. This goes in line with the National Transformation Program 2020 and Saudi Vision 2030”.

The participating governmental organizations include the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Education and Labor and Social Development as well as the Public Prosecution, the General Directorate of Prisons and Naif Academy for National Security. A selected group of faculty members will take part in the workshop.

Dr. Thamer Al-Harbi, dean of Higher Studies and Scientific Research, said the workshop aims to achieve six main goals, which are preparing a legal framework for alternative punishment according to Islamic Shariah, benefiting from other countries’ experiences in this regard, specifying research needs of alternative punishment, launching national campaigns to study the effects of implementing alternative punishment, continuing its development based on feedback and partnering with different government organizations.