By Adnan Al-Shabrawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The annual pardon in the holy month of Ramadan will not cover 29 categories of crimes stated in the principles and directives for annual pardon, according to sources.

Among the most prominent offenses not covered under Ramadan pardon are cases involving state security, incitement impacting national cohesion, murder, black magic, sorcery, human trafficking; blasphemy, desecration of the Holy Qur’an, torturing children, violence against people with special needs, cheating, cover-up (tasattur), money laundering, illicit real estate investments, sheltering people wanted for security offenses, arms smuggling, assault on govt officials or staff, doctors, nurses and paramedics, financial corruption, forging of title deeds, documents and rubber stamps, bribery, forging currencies, obtaining Saudi citizenship through illegal means, military crimes when in uniform, publishing secret documents and information, stock market crimes, cases involving Ruqya offenses (offenses concerning treatment by recitation of verses of the Holy Qur’an) and those falsely claiming to be Ruqaat, disclosing openly one’s intention to commit sins, conning and deception, and issuing bad checks.

Pardon does not cover any offenses coming under “Hudood” (The limits ordained by Allah) on which verdicts have been issued.

Saudi prisoners, who fulfill the conditions for pardon, should be released immediately. Expatriate prisoners, who have completed their prison terms or have been pardoned, but cannot be released unless they settle their fines, can be pardoned for fines not exceeding SR500,000.