MADINA: Authorities at the Women Prison in Madina lashed five 12- to 18-year-old orphan girls of Tayba Orphans Village, each of whom received 12 to 18 lashes for their involvement in physically assaulting the village manager. The girls were taken to Al-Khaldiya Police Station after the incident, which took place several months ago, and then to court, where they were sentenced to lashes after it was proved that they took part in a riot at the facility. Other officials at the orphanage said the girls beat the newly appointed manager because they objected to her appointment. Hatem Barri, Director of Social Affairs Directorate in Madina, refused any comment. Dr. Muhammad Bin Shadeed Al-Oufi, Supervisor of the National Society of Human Rights branch in Madina, said his organization was notified about the lashing and sent a representative to get a detailed report. If the lashing was based on a court decision then “we don't intervene in judiciary rulings,” he said.
