http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=67721&d=30&m=7&y=2005
Saturday, 30, July, 2005 (23, Jumada al-Thani, 1426)
Execution Looms for Mother of Three
Ali Al-Beshri & Raid Qusti, Arab News
ABHA/RIYADH, 30 July 2005 - A 26-year-old mother of three
convicted of murdering a man six years ago moved closer to the executioner's
block after the slain man's family refused all public pleas to forgive her and
demanded that the state execute her.
Several tribal leaders of the Asir region as well as members
from the Shoura Council arrived in the city of Khamis Mushayt on Thursday to
visit the victim's family members to try to persuade them for forgiveness. The
mayor of Khamis Mushayt as well as tribal leaders from Qahtan and Shahran
engaged in a five-hour discussion with the survivors, as citizens across Asir
were waiting in anticipation that their pleas would find mercy in the hearts of
the victim's family to forgive the woman.
However, the victim's brothers insisted the girl be executed
and refused any forgiveness on their part. Officials decided to postpone the
execution date until next week.
Other tribal leaders and important public figures are
expected to visit the city this week to continue to try to persuade the family
to forgive the girl and spare her life, especially since she is the mother of
three young children and has expressed regret over the death of their kinsman.
The story started six years ago when the young lady - 20
years old and married at the time - became involved in an affair with a Saudi
man.
After secretly dating him for some time, he demanded sex from
the woman and threatened her with death if she refused. She killed him while
defending her honor as he attempted to rape her.
The woman, known publicly now as the "Khamis Mushayt Girl,"
has spent the last five years in the Women's jail in Abha. She confessed to the
police and told her story to the religious court regarding the motives behind
the murder. However, a religious court ruling ordered her execution according
to Shariah law - regardless of the motives or the circumstances.
In her five years behind bars, the young mother has expressed
remorse over her actions and has turned to God, memorizing the entire Qur'an in
the process. During her prison stay, she has lost her father who stood by her
until his death.
"I will never give up on her," her husband told Arab News.
She is the mother of three children, one of whom was born in prison.
Hundreds of Asir residents gathered at the house of Mayor
Hussein Mushayt in Khamis Mushayt yesterday to express concern over the planned
public execution. The city of Khamis Mushayt, which is relatively small, has
been crowded with residents who have flocked to the town to muster sympathy for
the girl.
Many broke down in tears when they learned that the slain
man's family refused all public pleas and demanded execution.
A website was constructed to gather public support for the
condemned woman on the Internet. So far the number of people visiting the
website has been impressive.
"Some 53,000 people visited the website, even though it has
only been constructed in the past three weeks," said Dr. Waleed Abu Milhahe,
webmaster of the site. "Her story has become the talk of Saudis and non-Saudis."
Abu Milhahe said that the citizens of Asir have still not
given up hope and pray that well-known Saudis may be able to persuade the slain
man's family to show mercy.
"Many people from around the world, including the United
States and Canada, have also sent pleas for forgiveness on the website," Abu
Milhahe said. The Khamis Mushayt girl was due to be executed in a public square
two days ago; the postponement gives her a few more days among the living and
her children a few more days with a mother. And it gives the slain man's family
a few more days to decide between vengeance - or forgiveness.
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