The Commission on human rights in Saudi Arabia said that the Kingdom will no longer assign the death penalty to minors. Announcement with reference to the decree of the king was made two days after the authorities announced that the ban spanking, says the BBC.
The UN Convention on the rights of the child, signed Riyadh, stipulates that capital punishment shall not be imposed for crimes committed by minors. In a statement issued on Sunday, Alawad Awwad, President of the state-supported Commission, said that the Royal decree was replaced by the penalty at a maximum sentence of up to 10 years from serving time in juvenile prison.
"Decree helps us in promoting a more modern criminal code," the official said.
It is unclear when this decision is immediately publicized by the state media, will come into force.
According to human rights group Amnesty International, in 2019 in the Kingdom was executed 184 people. At least one case concerned a man sentenced for a crime committed as a minor.
