SAUDI ARABIA: VICTIM’S KIN PARDON KILLER AT PRINCE’S REQUEST

The relatives of an Asian man who was killed by a Saudi during a fight in the Gulf kingdom agreed to pardon the murderer at the request of a royal figure after they turned down previous mediations for five years.
The family of Manzoor Mohammed Nazeer, who was killed five years ago by Mashaal Al Qirhsi, said they went to court and recorded their pardon.
Sabq newspaper said the court would soon release the defendant, who has been on the death row since he was convicted of killing the Nazeer, 30.
“The victim’s relatives, after rejecting all previous medication bids, has now agreed to pardon the killer at the request of Prince Khalid Al Faisal bin Abdul Aziz, the Emir of Makkah,” the paper said.
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 blood money, which is officially set in Saudi Arabia at SR300,000 for a Muslim victim.