JEDDAH, 4 January 2006 — After more than four years of anticipation and living under pressure and stress, Muhammad Al-Suhaimi’s ordeal has come to an end.
The Saudi teacher and playwright received his notice yesterday from school officials allowing him to return to work as an administrator.
Al-Suhaimi’s ordeal began when he was accused of encouraging his students at an intermediate school in Riyadh to indulge in homosexuality and adultery.
He was initially suspended from his job for a month, and then assigned to an administrative position after his case went to court in 2001.
He was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison and 300 lashes. After only serving two weeks in the Al-Hair Prison in Riyadh, Al-Suhaimi received a royal pardon on Dec. 8.
Al-Suhaimi told Arab News that he would very much like to return to teaching. If the opportunity arises, he said, it would probably be at a different school. “(Teaching) is the only thing I’m good at,” he added.
With his head high following the king’s pardon, Al-Suhaimi will return to work today. But it may not be until Suhaimi is allowed to return to the classroom that one can say his justice has been served.
