Islamic Law and Crime - The Case of Saudi Arabia

• NCJ Number: 101066
• Journal: International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1985) Pages: 45-57
• Author(s): B E D Ali
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Revised version of a paper presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences' annual meeting in Chicago, 27-31 March 1984.

Annotation

The penal policy in Saudi Arabia (governed by Islamic Law) is based largely on deterrence and retribution in concept and is characterized by certainty and speed in practice while in the United States the penal philosophy (governed by positive law) is based mainly on offender rehabilitation and the administration of justice is rather slow and uncertain.

Abstract

Recent crime rates differ markedly between the two countries in favor of Saudi Arabia whether in crimes of violence or property. A combination of factors seems to contribute to the very low rates of crime in Saudi Arabia including the firm and deterrent effect of Islamic criminal law, the general effect of religion and religiosity, the influence of Quaranic teachings, and the Islamic educational system. (Publisher abstract)