Two Saudis pay Dh225,000 'diya' to save Filipino's life

Two Saudi men donated SR225,000 (Dh225,000) to pay the diya (blood money) for a Filipino driver convicted of killing an Indian man after running him over on a motorway in the Gulf Kingdom, a newspaper reported on Monday.

The Filipino was driving a van on the road in the central Al Rass town when he hit the pedestrian, killing him instantly, ‘Sabq’ said.

“Two Saudi men donated the diya money requested by the victim’s relatives.

“The court has just sent a letter to the prison to release the Filipino and consider the case closed,”  the paper said without identifying those two or saying why they paid the diya.

Under Islamic law, which is strictly enforced in Saudi Arabia, a convicted killer can escape execution and walk free if pardoned by the victim’s family in return for diya, which is officially set in Saudi Arabia at SR300,000 for a Muslim victim. The victim’s relatives are allowed to demand any sum.
 

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