Two judges in Saudi Arabia suspended for issuing controversial rulings
Judges claimed it was prohibited for men to shave beards and smoke shisha
Dubai: The Saudi Supreme Judicial Council has suspended two judges for issuing controversial rulings, prohibiting mu’assel (shisha) and shaving, online Saudi Arabian news outlet Sabq reported.
According to Sabq, the two judges are currently under investigation and appropriate penalties will be taken.
The judges cited Islam in their rulings, saying it was prohibited for men to shave their beards and smoke shisha.
Sabq added that judicial work is an institutional act that leaves no room for the individual’s opinion regarding the direction of the institutional system, which is based on the country’s legislation, principles and decisions, and it rejects rulings by individuals, such as prohibiting tobacco and shaving.
“The two cases are currently being reviewed, because the commercial activity in the two deliberated cases is legally authorised, and the role of the judiciary is to enforce regulations,” the newspaper said.
Earlier in July, Saudi Arabia issued preliminary rulings for five financial and administrative corruption cases in the Kingdom, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
A judge charged with bribery was sentenced to four years in prison and a fine of 130,000 riyals ($34,660), according to SPA. A mediator involved in the same case was sentenced to five months in prison and a fine of 20,000 riyals ($5,333).
