[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

July 10


SAUDI ARABIA:

Elderly Makkawi seeking help to save son on death row


Accepting blood money is one of the Islamic ways of saving the necks of
convicted murderers from dying at the sword and it is not an uncommon
practice in Saudi Arabia.

But what if you do not have enough money to pay the wergild? In this case
you have to wait for your fate. This is exactly what is happening to Badr
Al-Hasnani, a 21-year-old Saudi who killed a fellow seasonal worker three
years ago during the Haj.

Badr has 24 days to pay SR5 million.

"I do not have that money. We have 3 houses owned by me and my 2 other
sons, but if we sell all 3 of them, then we still would not be able to
raise half the money that they are asking for," said Salim Al-Hasnani,
Badr's 58-year-old father. He further called on people to help save his
sons life.

Badr killed his young Saudi coworker at one of the Tawafa establishments
during the Haj season in 2005. The pair got involved in an argument during
which Badr stabbed the other with a knife.

The father of the deceased originally demanded SR7 million to pardon the
killer but, after interventions by tribal chiefs and members of the
Reconciliation Committee, he agreed to lower the amount to SR5 million.
The family is still unable to raise the amount.

Badr's mother also appealed to charitable people to save her son who is
now continuing with his studies in prison.

Meanwhile, Awad Al-Harbi, a death row prisoner in the city of Taif who
married the daughter of a fellow convict while in prison last November, is
waiting for the birth of his child. His father-in-law was executed after
the wedding.

(source: Arab News)