I am not sure if this incident took place during Ramadan or before, but I am more inclined to the first probability since a local daily last week published it. On this occasion, I recall an interview published early Ramadan with one of the judges under the title “The Temperament of Judges.”
Asked about the influence of fasting on the verdicts issued by the judges during Ramadan, the judge said they tend to be lenient, soft and merciful. “Whoever is judged in Ramadan should consider himself a lucky person,” he said.
We go back to the news story published in one of the local dailies last week. It said a summary court in Jeddah sentenced an Indian expatriate to two months in jail and 50 lashes for attempting to commit suicide numerous times.
Here I must ask the judge who claimed that the verdicts issued during Ramadan are lenient and soft: Is this the mercifulness you are talking about? Is this an example of it? Dear all: there is no rational person who would attempt to commit suicide no matter how much pressure and stress he is under.
No one, regardless of his race, color, religion, education or culture, would decide to commit suicide unless that person was so mentally unfit as to be incapable of thinking properly.
If a single suicide attempt is enough proof of mental problems what can we say about a man who makes many attempts? He is no doubt a sick person that needs mental and psychological treatment instead of imprisonment and whipping.
He needs doctors to treat him not judges to sentence him.
This brings to our minds the many cases of mentally unfit people who have been sent to jail.
And what would have been the sentence on this desperate Indian man if it had not been issued during Ramadan when the verdicts are soft and merciful?
