U.N. Urges Saudis to End Floggings, Amputations

``The committee itself had no doubt that flogging in almost every case constitutes torture, and amputation of limbs probably in every case...would constitute torture under our definition,'' said Peter Burns, Canadian law professor and committee chairman.

That seems self-apparent to me, except when is flogging warranted?

The Human Rights Commission won't take on the Sauds, but the UN Committee Against Torture is talking. And it's obvious to anyone that they're in violation of the Convention Against Torture -- which they signed. But the Saudis say that Sharia law prescribes these punishments; I don't think they're actually required, are they? If it does, then the law has to change.