The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterated adherence to its sovereign right to apply capital punishment, which takes into account the observance of the rights of victims and perpetrators, where the justice systems ensured rights of the offender and the victim as well as the rights of the community and its safety. This came in a comment made by Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, President of the Human Rights Commission, before the UN Human Rights Council. Al-Aiban led the Kingdom's delegation to the 28th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Dr. Aiban stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's system is based on the provisions of Islamic Shari'a, which is the constitution of the Kingdom's justice system and all systems, pointing out that Shari ensures justice and preserves the rights for all. "As we renew our emphasis on respect of the right to life as one of the fundamental rights guaranteed by Islamic law, we should not forget the calls to cancel or suspend the implementation of capital punishment rule for the victims' rights which are violated by perpetrators," Dr. Al-Aiban. "The implementation of capital punishment rule in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are taken in the most serious crimes threatening the security and safety of the community and the rights of individuals." Al-Aiban added, stressing the Kingdom's keenness to apply the maximum standards of justice, including the fair trial in accordance with the Kingdom's internal and international obligations.
