Child born to unknown parents in kingdom is Saudi

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – A child who is born to unknown parents in the kingdom will be considered as a Saudi, and that the state will provide integrated healthcare for the child, Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) has clarified.

The commission also said that the child is not held criminally accountable unless he is seven years old at the time of committing the punishable crime, Saudi Gazette reported.

HRC also emphasized that penalties will be stringent even if the perpetrator of the crime is not aware that the victim is a child.

The commission added that any male or female under the age of 18 and whose father has passed away and does not have a capable breadwinner or sufficient source of income to make a living will benefit from annuity.

HRC also explained that it is neither permissible to employ any person under the age of 15 nor are they permitted to enter the workplace.

Anyone who commits an offense that includes among the crimes of child abuse, will be awarded a jail term not exceeding one year or a maximum fine of 50,000 Saudi riyal or both, the commission said while stressing that discontinuing of education of a child is considered as an abuse or negligence.

Reporting by Indonesia Window