New guidelines for handcuffing criminals in Saudi Arabia

Last Updated on May 3, 2024 1:43 am

Saudi Arabia has issued new guidelines for handcuffing suspected criminals during arrest. It has been said that a suspected criminal cannot be handcuffed unless he is ‘dangerous’ at the time of arrest.

According to the report of Gulf News, new amendments have been introduced in the judicial system of Saudi Arabia. The amendment calls for stricter imposition of handcuffs.

The Saudi newspaper Al Madina reported that the amendment to the Executive Regulations of the Procedural Law approved by the highest bodies that a suspect cannot be handcuffed during detention unless the person poses a danger or danger to others or tries to escape.

According to the report, the amendment came after the Ministry of Justice looked into the police’s discretionary power in handcuffing suspects and limited the measure to necessary and specific cases.

Saudi Arabia has been trying to reform the country’s judiciary in recent years under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prime Minister Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. As part of that, the last handcuffing instructions were given.

Earlier in April 2020, the Saudi Human Rights Commission announced that a royal decree had been issued abolishing the death penalty for minors.

This order applies to offenders who will be under 18 years of age at the time of the offence. The issue is seen as a major step forward in protecting human rights in the Muslim-majority Middle Eastern country.