Saudi Arabian's caught singing and dancing at wild party ordered to dig graves

Two young women and two men who were caught together at a wild party that involved dancing and singing at a beach resort in Saudi Arabia have been given interesting alternative sentences.

The Criminal Court in Jeddah ordered the two girls to visit 10 patients at an intensive care unit of a government hospital, while the two young men will be digging five graves. However, the prosecutor has objected to the sentence and has decided to challenge the verdict.



A number of judges across the Kingdom prefer issuing alternative sentences, or non-jail sentences. Judge Yasser Al-Balawi at the criminal court described this approach as a means of sparing the guilty and their families the negative impact as a result of jail sentences, such as negative societal perceptions and potential unemployment, which could exacerbate crime levels in the long run.

Many specialists and experts have called for application of alternative sentences during the Haj season in place of harsher sentences such as lashing or jail as a means to reduce punishment and provide services to pilgrims. Services could include guiding pilgrims and helping pilgrims collect stones for rituals.