Twenty-six people on death row in Saudi Arabia have been spared the executioner’s sword after their victims’ families agreed to pardon them or accept bloody money, the Dammam Reconciliation Committee has reportedly said.
Eastern Province Governor Prince Saud bin Naif said the committee had been responsible for persuading the families to accept the plea deals, Arab News reported.
It is common in Saudi Arabia for those convicted of serious crimes including murder to be spared the death sentence if the victim’s family agrees.
The kingdom has one of the highest rates of execution in the world. Last year, 83 executions were carried out, according to a tally by Associated Press based on announcements from the official state news agency. That was the highest number in years.
Prince Saud said committee members had travelled to remote areas of the kingdom and internationally to discuss the alternative options with 147 victims’ families. Twenty-six had agreed the convicted person should not be beheaded.
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