Year sentence in 'dishonour' case

Saudi woman, who retracted a guilty plea to adultery charges and avoided a possible sentence of death by stoning, is sentenced to one year in prison.

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ABU DHABI // A Saudi woman who retracted a guilty plea to adultery charges and avoided a possible sentence of death by stoning was sentenced yesterday to one year in prison. The woman, RM, first pleaded guilty last month to charges of adultery, which technically carry a death sentence under Islamic law. But a person can be convicted of extramarital sex only if four reliable witnesses see the act, or if the defendant pleads guilty.

RM retracted her guilty plea last month after being informed by the judge of the potential consequences. The adultery and justification of sin accusations were reduced by the court to charges of consensual dishonour, which carry a lighter sentence. Her father sought the charges. newsdesk@thenational.ae