JEDDAH, 29 July 2005 — The health of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd has improved, an official source at the Interior Ministry said yesterday.
To mark the king’s recovery, Crown Prince Abdullah has pardoned several common law prisoners who will be released soon, the Saudi Press Agency quoted the source as saying.
The pardoned prisoners include individuals who do not constitute any danger to general security or the regime, and who represent the largest majority of prisoners in the country.
The pardon excluded those convicted for major crimes including individuals who have been sentenced or awaiting sentencing under Shariah law. Those benefiting from the pardon should undertake not to commit a crime after being released and if they did so they will serve the period they have been pardoned for in addition to the prison term they receive for any crime committed after the pardon.
