Sheikh Abid Al-Ajhouri, the judge of appeals in Makkah, said that Shariah courts would provide the governorates with all data, including civil identity numbers, of those who do not attend court hearings. The authorities will then ask service providers to take action against them.
He said sanctions could include not issuing absentees with commercial or driving licenses, passports and visas.
"Their bank accounts will be frozen, salaries halted and the electric power cut from their homes and offices," he said.
Al-Ajhouri said these procedures were aimed at ending unnecessary postponements of hearings because of those who unjustifiably waste the courts’ time.
"By halting all these government and civic services to them, litigants will be compelled to come to court," he said.
Al-Ajhouri said these punishments would help cut down the number of people failing to attend court hearings and warned that judges would start ruling in absentia.
