Saudi (in)justice: On death row, despite having paid diyat

KARACHI:

It has been 15 years when Muhammad Abdul Rehman alias Kareem Khan travelled to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for work.

“He had promised me to come back on leave after one year with lots of things to make her happy,” said his wife Naheed. “But he did not come. Maybe he will never come back.”

Saudi authorities sentenced Rahman to death after he was convicted of murder. He could be executed as early as May 1. His family says that they have already paid blood money, even as they continue to insist that he is innocent.

“Rehman is innocent, but anyhow, diyat was paid and the necessary documents have been forwarded to the Saudi authorities,” said Naheed. She asked the government to intervene immediately to save his life.

Rehman had been arrested on murder charges in Mecca after one of his roommates was found dead at the apartment in which he was living. Two of Rehman’s other roommates were also arrested.

A Saudi court had sentenced them for life imprisonment (14 years) but a couple of months ago, the Saudi authorities had reopened the case and this time they awarded them the death sentence.

Rehman’s brother Abdullah Khan said that, on the advice of Saudi authorities, he had contacted an influential leader of the Leghari tribe in Dera Ghazi Khan. A jirga was then held and Rs4 million in blood money was agreed upon, which was paid. He said that he had submitted proof of the Diyat payment but Rehman has still not been released.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2011.