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The Beeb wrote:Amnesty International has urged Saudi authorities to stop any attempt to medically paralyse a man as a judicial punishment.

A Saudi judge is reported to have asked hospitals if it is possible to cut the spinal cord of the man, found guilty of paralysing another man in a fight.

Amnesty said intentionally paralysing someone would constitute torture.

Under Islamic law in Saudi Arabia, retribution sentences can include eye-gouging and, for murder, beheading.

"We urge the Saudi Arabian authorities not to carry out such a punishment, which amounts to nothing less than torture," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, of Amnesty International.

"While those guilty of a crime should be held accountable, intentionally paralysing a man in this way would constitute torture and be a breach of its international human rights obligations."

The UK-based human rights group quoted reports that a court in the north-western town of Tabuk had approached a number of hospitals enquiring about a spinal operation.

The man in question has already been sentenced to seven months' imprisonment for the offence, which happened more than two years ago, Amnesty said.

The brother of the victim told the Associated Press news agency that the injuries had been caused in a fight involving a meat cleaver.

He said his brother, who was left paralysed and later lost a foot, had asked a judge in Tabuk to impose an equivalent punishment on his attacker under Islamic law.

Correspondents say the case highlights attempts by Saudi Arabia to balance religious traditions with a push to modernise the country.

Lighthawk wrote:They sure don't f**k around over there.

Tsukiyumi wrote:I'd like to know more details about the fight, namely which side started it.

Though, even I find this on the extreme side.

Cpl Kendall wrote:"Out here, due process is a bullet!"
~John Wayne, The Green Berets

McAvoy wrote:I agree. If the victim's back was broken on purpose then I may agree with the punishment even if a bit extreme. But if his back was broken because of an accident during the fight, I don't.

It would be the equivilant of me getting in a fight with another guy and he trips and breaks his arm. Then my arm would be broken as punishment, even if it were an accident. But if I broke his arm on purpose for the hell of it, well then I deserve to have my arm broken.

Also wonder who started the fight, how it started too.

Deepcrush wrote:A fist fight is no different then any other battle. You fight and fight to win, worry about the aftermath later.