JEDDAH: The Ministry of Justice will publish verdicts from the primary and appeals specialist penal courts, said Dr. Muhammad Bin Abdul Kareem Al-Issa, Minister of Justice. Speaking Saturday at a forum on substantiation of judicial verdicts, Issa said it would not be long before verdicts and the full reasons for them are published. “The judges have worked hard and absolved themselves before Allah before anything else,” he said. Issa confirmed that the proceedings of criminal cases, particularly terrorism and state-security cases, include Shariah texts and judicial principles that are well-established and have been implemented for quite a long time. He added that it is better for cases to be substantiated on certain grounds because there are great benefits for the judge and judiciary institution. The judges' view is that in primary and appeals cases, substantiation of verdicts on the basis of an article should not be based on part of that article, but on the whole article, he added. The minister stressed that all are equal before the Saudi judiciary and emphasized that outside influence on the course of justice is not allowed whatsoever. “What I intend to say here is that a difference in faith or ideology has no effect on the values of our justice,” he said. “All are equal before the judiciary. Our rule is based on the Qur'anic verses ‘…and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice…” [Verse 58, Surah 4. An-Nisa] and ‘… and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety….' [Verse 8, Surah 5. Al-Maidah].” Whoever the person is, the criterion is justice, Issa said. “Justice is for all and there are no double standards regarding justice,” he said. The Ministry of Justice has many verdicts proving this, the minister said adding, some have been published and others will be published soon. Issa said the substantiation of verdicts is a right of public opinion within the Kingdom and elsewhere, and it is the right of those involved in cases. “It is the right of the public opinion to get acquainted with the reasons for verdicts, especially since it is the right of the public to attend court proceedings and the sessions should be open,” he said. “A citizen should not be barred from attending court proceedings for a case and getting acquainted with the reasons for verdicts.” Issa drew attention to the fact that any shortcoming in substantiating verdicts or weakness in this respect should be restricted to the source of the verdict and should not go beyond this to affect the Shariah rule or judgment in this regard, nor should it affect the reputation of the judicial institution. “The shortcoming in this is meager, but it cannot pass unnoticed during judicial inspection and periodic evaluation, nor can it pass unnoticed by the high court in its objective evaluation of the verdict,” he said.
