Medical letter writing action: Saudi Arabia: Amputations

Index Number: MDE 23/006/1991
Date Published: 18 December 1991
Categories: Middle East And North Africa, Saudi Arabia

In the first week of December 1991, three judicial amputations were carried out in Saudi Arabia. 'Ali bin 'Issa bin Hassan al-'Ali had his right hand severed at the wrist in the town of 'Ihsa on 5 December. He had been convicted of a number of thefts. On 6 December Ahmad bin Nasser bin Ahmad Suleiman, a Yemeni national, and Obeid bin Muhammad bin Hammad al-Dusari had their hands amputated. Both had been convicted of theft of a safe from a shop. Amnesty International is concerned about the possible role of medical professionals in the amputations.