King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has pardoned some prisoners on the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadan. An Interior Ministry statement said this development comes within the framework of the noble values of the Saudi society. The statement noted that the pardon was granted in a manner that does not harm the independence of the judicial system or the state's systems and regulations. The pardon does not include those who have been convicted for serious offenses under Article 112 of the System of Penal Procedures issued by the Cabinet last year. This pardon has excluded grave crimes like torture or endangering of children, crimes which have harmed members of the society like all forms of thefts, as well as financial violations stipulated in the System of the Stock Market and the Statute of the Market's Behavior issued by a Royal Decree last year. In addition crimes that undermine the security of the country, citizens and residents, such as, crimes involving weapons, explosives, poisons and terrorism have been excluded from the pardon list. The statement pointed out that the pardon also excludes crimes which run counter to the values of society such as the violation of honor by means of blackmailing. Crimes which lead to undermining confidence among dealers in the market, such as, crimes of fraudulence in financial and real estate operations as well as crimes which contradict the teachings of religion have also been excluded.
