Old Saudi's 7-year wait for 'blinding' or 'pardon'

An 82-year-old Saudi man has been in prison for nearly seven years awaiting a court sentence to blind him after he was convicted of causing blindness to another man during a fight. The old man could be saved if pardoned by the victim.

During the fight in the southern Saudi town of Bisha, Wahair Al Harthi shot his adversary in the face, causing him to lose sight in both eyes.

The court found him guilty and ordered him to be “blinded” on tooth-for-tooth basis under Islamic law unless the victim accepts diya (blood money) and pardons him.

“We appeal to all Sheikhs, tribal leaders and benevolent people to intervene and persuade the victim to drop his case, accept diya and pardon my father,” his son Mansour said, quoted by the Arabic language daily Sabq.

Under Islamic law, which is strictly enforced in conservative Saudi Arabia, a killer or convict can be saved and set free in some cases if pardoned by the victim’s relatives in return for blood money.

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