Saudi Gazette report

DAMMAM — Sources in the Ministry of Justice revealed that courts in the Kingdom have reviewed 77 rape cases during the first six months of this year, Al-Hayat daily reported.

The sources added there were 111 rape cases last year, while there were 1,495 adultery cases. 

Riyadh had 881 adultery cases, followed by Makkah with 321 cases and the Eastern Province with 95 cases.

"In all 745 Saudis and 750 expatriates were convicted and sentenced in these cases," one source said.

The Ministry of Justice said there had been a significant increase in the number of rapes involving children of both sexes. In most cases, the perpetrators were either relatives or married men.

The ministry said the death sentence should be given to rapists due to their gruesome nature and extent of such crimes. 

It asked all concerned authorities to play a more active role in arresting, questioning and referring rapists to courts. The ministry also instructed courts to give rape cases priority in order to maintain safety in society.

In a circular to all courts, Minister of Justice Muhammad Al-Isa asked judges to give the death sentence to rapists who use weapons to threaten their victims. The circular further said anyone found to have committed adultery with a mahram (relative with whom marriage is prohibited) should also be sentenced to death. 

The punishment for rapists who do not use weapons to threaten their victims were left to presiding judges to decide.

The circular pointed to a directive issued by the Supreme Council of Ulema in September 1981, which considers kidnapping and infringing on Muslims properties as acts that are punishable by death since they contribute to the spread of chaos in society.

Retired judge Taleb Al-Taleb said rapes involving children include all cases where the victim is younger than 18. He added that rapists who threaten their victims with weapons, whether it is a knife, gun, or sharp instrument, and those who commit adultery with a mahram are sentenced to death.

“In any case, evidence should be provided and three judges should review the case in the general court, five judges in the appeals court and an additional five in the supreme court before the judgment is finally implemented. Each rape case is different and the same verdict cannot apply in all rape cases,” he said.