JIZAN, 11 March 2004 — Al-Raith in Jizan’s northeast is ringing with the celebrations that traditionally follow the pardoning of a murderer. Mudawi Jaber Al-Salami and Jaber Muhammad Al-Salami are out of jail nearly five years after killing Mudawi Yahya Al-Najdi, whose tribe finally agreed to pardon them in return for millions of riyals in diya or blood money.
The tribal region has reason to be grateful to State Minister Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Fahd, who set up a committee to mediate between the murderers’ tribe and the victim’s Al-Najd tribe after initial negotiations stalled.
Mudawi faced death and Jaber life imprisonment for their part in the murder.
The prince paid the blood money himself after arduous negotiations produced a figure of SR4.2 million, and a court ordered Mudawi and Jaber released.
Mudawi says he spent the best years of his life in prison. “I was in ninth grade when I committed the murder,” he said. “I continued my education in prison. But I was dying little by little being locked up. I was waiting for the day when I would be told to make my will and prepare myself for execution.
“When I heard that the prince’s efforts were successful, he gave me my life back. I hope I can settle down, find a job and get married to make up for the years I lost in prison,” he added.
