Pribel is used as a method of punishment for a number of wrongdoings in the absolute monarchy of Saudi Arabia, where strict Islamic law is applied.

But now a document from the country's highest court shows that the impeachment penalty should be abolished. Instead, imprisonment or fines are to be imposed, according to Reuters news agency, which has taken note of the court's action.

"The decision is based on the reform initiated by King Salman (bin Abdul Aziz) under the supervision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman," the document said in Reuters.

"Should have happened a long time ago"

"This is a welcome change, but it should have happened a long time ago," says Adam Coogle, Deputy Chief of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa Division.

- Nothing prevents Saudi Arabia from reforming its unfair justice system.

Exactly when the change comes into effect is not shown in Reuters reporting.

Human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International regularly criticize Saudi Arabia for arbitrary arrests, torture and the death penalty, which are also sentenced to children.

Human rights activist died on Friday

Blogger Raif Badawi is one of several prisoners who has become a symbol of the country's draconian justice system. He was sentenced in 2014 to ten years in prison and a thousand whips for breaking the country's technology laws and for blogging for secularism and freedom of speech.

Several countries have unsuccessfully called on Saudi Arabia to release him.

The 2013 ruling against human rights activist Abdullah al-Hamid is also a case that has attracted international attention. Al-Hamid died in prison on Friday, according to several rights organizations, including the Swedish The Right Livelihood Foundation.