[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22010122

The reported sentencing of paralysis for a Saudi man as punishment for paralysing another man has been described as "outrageous" by a leading human rights group.

Saudi reports say the 24-year-old man could be paralysed from the waist down if he cannot pay his victim one million riyals (£250,000) in compensation.

Amnesty International says the sentence is a form of torture.

The man has been in prison for 10 years since he stabbed a friend in the back.

Saudi newspapers say Ali al-Khawahir was 14 when he paralysed his friend in the attack in the Eastern Province town of al-Ahsa.

The law of qisas, or retribution, in Saudi Arabia means his victim can demand that he suffers exactly the same punishment as he caused.

"Paralysing someone as punishment for a crime would be torture," said Ann Harrison, Middle East and North Africa deputy director at Amnesty.

"It is time the authorities in Saudi Arabia start respecting their international legal obligations and remove these terrible punishments from the law."

This is the latest example of Saudi Arabia's fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law attracting international criticism.

Amnesty says the law has seen judicially approved eye-gougings and tooth extractions.

Does "qisas" only apply to the poor if, as it seems, money can buy "satisfaction" .....

[lostalex]

Wait, so he is not gonna have to go to jail after he's paralyzed?

I think they should give him a choice. either you spend the rest of your life in a Saudi Jail cell and we won't paralyze you, OR we can paralyze you, and you get to live the rest of your life free.

I think that would be fair. Give him the choice.

I'm not sure which i'd choose...which is worse? being paralyzed but atleast you are out of jail? or being in jail but able-bodied?

[arista]

The have to get money to pay the family off
to prevent it.

Its a Nation that has its own Laws
Feck all to do with UK or USA.

[Nedusa]

This is 14th century justice at its finest... Please be warned when you travel to the Middle East contrary to what you may be told the Middle East is not 4 hrs ahead of GMT , more like 400 years behind...!!!!