VIVE LA CHARIA

Saudi judge considers severing spine of attacker who paralyzed man

By Michael Winter,

USA TODAY

In a variation of the ancient eye-for-an-eye punishment, a judge in Saudi Arabia has asked hospitals whether doctors would sever the spinal cord of an attacker convicted of paralyzing a man with a cleaver.

The Arabic-language newspaper Okaz reported that one hospital in the northwestern province of Tabuk said it could perform the operation, while a prominent hospital in Riyadh refused, on apparent ethical grounds, saying "inflicting such harm is not possible."

Abdul-Aziz al-Mutairi, 22, was left paralyzed and subsequently lost a foot after a fight more than two years ago, his older brother, Khaled al-Mutairi, told the Associated Press. He said the assailant, whom he and the paper did not identify, was sentenced to 14 months in prison, released after seven months in an amnesty and now teaches at a university.

Under Islamic (sharia) law in Saudi Arabia, victims can ask that criminals receive punishments similar to the harm they inflicted. It is not uncommon for thieves to have their hands cut off.

"We are asking for our legal right under Islamic law," Khaled al-Mutairi said. "There is no better word than God's word — an eye for an eye."

Judge Saoud bin Suleiman al-Youssef sent letters to several hospitals in and outside the region, Emirates 24/7 says. A verdict is pending.

(Posted by Michael Winter)

See photos of: Saudi Arabia

ùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùù