Convicted killer needs Dh30m to escape death

A Saudi man who was convicted of killing another during a fight needs to pay SR30 million (Dh30 million) to the victim’s relatives to escape being executed.

The court in the northern town of Rawdat Al Habas has given Salman Al Shammari next week to pay the diya (blood money) to the victim’s family or he will be executed.

Sabq newspaper said the killer’s relatives have launched a fund-raising campaign to secure the sum before the end of the deadline.

“We have opened accounts in several banks for donations…we appeal for all benevolent people to help save our son from the gallows,” the paper quoted Salman Al Shammari, a relative of the convict,” as saying.

Under Islamic law, which is strictly enforced in Saudi Arabia, a convicted killer can escape death and walk free if pardoned by the victim’s relatives in exchange for diya, which is set at SR300,000 (Dh300,000) in Saudi Arabia. But victims’ relatives are allowed to demand any sum to pardon the killer.

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