The UAE has amended its Crimes and Penalties Law to increase prison terms in premeditated murder cases where the victim’s heirs waive their right to retribution. Under the new provisions, offenders will face 15 to 20 years in prison.

The amendment applies to Clause 3 of Article 384 of the Crimes and Penalties Law and takes effect when the victim’s heirs waive their right to retribution at any stage of the judicial proceedings or before the sentence is carried out.

Under the previous law, the minimum sentence in such cases was seven years in prison. According to a legal expert, the sentencing range before the amendment was seven to 15 years and has now been explicitly increased to 15 to 20 years.

Qisas, or retribution, is a form of punishment under Islamic law that may be imposed in certain premeditated murder cases when the legal requirements are met and a court issues a ruling. The victim’s heirs may waive this right, but doing so does not acquit the offender or end their criminal liability.

Under the new provisions, once the right to retribution has been waived, the court will set a prison term of between 15 and 20 years, taking into account the circumstances of the crime and applicable sentencing rules.

The UAE Government said the amendment aims to strengthen legal deterrence and strike a balance between the heirs’ right to waive retribution and the need to protect society from extremely serious crimes.

The change forms part of a new federal decree-law that also amends provisions concerning retribution and the incitement of or assistance in suicide.