A general pardon in Saudi Arabia

Originally published January 28, 1998

King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday authorized the release of prisoners arrested on minor charges. An official source at the Saudi Ministry of Interior said that according to the pardon some 7,766 prisoners were freed, including 4,648 Saudis and 3,118 foreigners.

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Updated October 27, 2026 · First published 2000