31 Saudi death row prisoners pardoned in 8 months
~~By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Most former prisoners released after paying blood money
~~By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Most former prisoners released after paying blood money
Manama, July 11, 2013: A Saudi daily on Thursday said that 31 prisoners had been spared the capital punishment in the country in the last eight months after they were pardoned by the victims’ families.
The former prisoners were released after their relatives or tribes paid diya (blood money) or fulfilled demands by the victims’ families, such as moving away from the area, local Arabic daily Al Sharq said.
In some cases, the executions were halted after the prisoners were simply granted pardon by the families. Under the law, a killer can avoid the death sentence if he or she is pardoned by the victim’s relatives. In a diya system, the victim’s heirs or relatives reach an agreement with the killer or his family for financial compensation.
“Most pardon cases were related to paying diya,” a source told the daily. “However, in a few cases, it was just the families pardoning the culprit.” Abdul Aziz Al Zamel, a lawyer, said that the pardon had to be documented in a court of law.
The former prisoners were released after their relatives or tribes paid diya (blood money) or fulfilled demands by the victims’ families, such as moving away from the area, local Arabic daily Al Sharq said.
In some cases, the executions were halted after the prisoners were simply granted pardon by the families. Under the law, a killer can avoid the death sentence if he or she is pardoned by the victim’s relatives. In a diya system, the victim’s heirs or relatives reach an agreement with the killer or his family for financial compensation.
“Most pardon cases were related to paying diya,” a source told the daily. “However, in a few cases, it was just the families pardoning the culprit.” Abdul Aziz Al Zamel, a lawyer, said that the pardon had to be documented in a court of law.
Courtesy: Gulfnews.com
