Killer needs $8m to escape execution

A Saudi man sentenced to death for murder needs nearly $eight million to escape execution after the victim’s relatives demanded that sum as diya (blood money) to pardon him, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Khalid Al Harbi has been in jail in the northeastern town of Hafr Al Batin for more than a year and he would be executed within three weeks unless he pays diya.

“Khalid’s relatives are appealing for all benevolent persons to help him pay the SR30 million diya so his life is saved and he returns to his mother and family,” the Saudi Arabic language daily Arar News said.

It did not mention Khalid’s age or his victim but said his father is dead.

Under Islamic law, a killer can 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 Moslem victim. But the victim’s relatives are allowed to demand any sum .

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