Saudi courts have received 77 rape cases during the past six months of this year compared to 1,495 adultery cases, local media reported quoting Justice Ministry sources. The ministry has instructed courts to apply capital punishment to rapists if they use weapons to threaten their victims.
Riyadh Region registered the highest number of adultery cases during the reporting period with 881 cases, followed by Makkah and the Eastern Regions with 321 and 95 cases respectively, the media said. Some 745 Saudis and 750 foreigners were referred to the courts in connection with these cases, the media said.
The ministry has confirmed that child rape cases were increasing in the Kingdom and accordingly it has called for the application of capital punishment to convicted rapists in case they use weapons or threaten to kill victims.
The ministry proposed the tough punishment in response to calls by experts to tighten penalties on rapists.
Earlier, a memo issued by Justice Minister Mohammed Al-Eissa ordered all courts to apply Heraba — capital punishment — rule to child rape cases if rapists use weapons or threaten to kill the victims or cases of incest.
If a perpetrator commits rape by luring the child without using arms, the judge has discretion in such situation, the memo said.
Armed rapists to get death
