King Fahd of Saudi Arabia has reportedly pardoned more than 12,000 prisoners - nearly half the population of the country's over-crowded jails.

The Saudi newspaper Al-Watan quotes the director of the kingdom's prisons as saying the pardon of minor offenders is timed to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, which ends this weekend.

The mass pardon has reportedly already begun, with all those pardoned expected to be out of prison by the time the Muslim Eid holiday begins this weekend.

But only those convicted of minor offences are being released. These include debtors and people caught brawling in public.

Serious criminals - such as those convicted or murder, drug smuggling and what Saudis call moral crimes such as adultery - are not expected to be released.

The move reveals official concern at the chronic overcrowding in Saudi jails.

Reforms planned

Saudi Arabia is what most human rights organisations would classify as a police state - uniformed and plain-clothes police are everywhere, the list of banned activities is seemingly endless and you can even be arrested for taking a photograph of a statue.

But as an indication of impending reforms, the Saudi prison director has been quoted as saying that jail terms could soon be abolished for minor offences.

Instead, he said, offenders would pay a fine or do community service.

Saudi Arabia's justice system has come under fierce attack from international human rights organisations.

They have condemned the harsh punishments carried out under Islamic law or Sharia, such as flogging and beheading.

They have also criticised alleged miscarriages of justice, quoting numerous examples of individuals who they say have been arrested and imprisoned without trial or access to a lawyer.

But the Saudi authorities have rejected all outside criticism of their justice system. They say any attack on their system is an attack on Islam and their religion, they say, remains above all criticism.