Manama: A judge in Saudi Arabia has upheld a flogging sentence against a husband for slapping his wife even though the wife later said that she forgave the husband and wanted the case dropped.
The man was sentenced to 30 lashes and 10 days in jail and ordered to attend special sessions on marriage counseling and on how to treat and deal with spouses.
The court in Al Qateef in the Eastern Province said that the wife could witness the flogging in retribution for the physical pain her husband caused her.
However, on Wednesday the wife, accompanied by her mother-in-law, went to the court and informed the judge that she forgave her husband and wished to see the punitive jail and flogging actions dropped, Saudi daily Al Sharq reported.
Her pleas did not convince the judge who said that he would maintain the sentences against the husband.
According to the court documents, the wife, in her 30s, filed the case after her husband slapped her on the face during an argument.
He admitted the act, arguing that she had been impolite with his father and sister, the daily said.
