TAIF, 21 September 2004 — “We do not want anything. We pardon him and seek only Allah’s rewards,” said the father of the young man who was murdered four years ago.
According to Al-Jazirah newspaper, the story began when a fight started between Abdullah Al-Orabi, 18, and Alaa Al-Eali, 24, inside Shuhar sports hall in Taif in 2000. Onlookers separated the two and they left the hall only to come back at 10:30 p.m. to fight it out. Alaa pulled out a knife he had hidden with him and stabbed Abdullah several times in the chest killing him instantly. Police arrested the killer soon afterward.
Since the court sentenced him to death, the family of the killer kept seeking the forgiveness of the family of the murdered youth. They offered money and involved many mediators to solve the case. The father and brothers of the murdered young man refused to forgive, saying they want justice.
More than 16 elders from many tribes and Sheikh Saad Al-Buraik who represented the office of Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Fahd offered SR15 million in cash for the family in return for forgiveness. A blank check was also offered but nothing short of punishment would satisfy the father.
But under the direction of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, the Clemency and Reconciliation Committee did its best to gain the consent of the family to pardon the killer.
Last Wednesday the committee members met with the father of the murdered young man and talked to him for a long time to convince him of the greatness of forgiveness until the moment came when the father suddenly announced that he forgave the killer. He also announced that he does not want anything from the killer’s family; he was only seeking Allah’s rewards.
Naser Al-Zahrani, president of the clemency and reconciliation committee, called Prince Abdul Majeed who talked to the father himself and thanked him personally. As a reward, the family was invited to the washing ceremony of the Holy Kaaba a few days ago. The father said to Al-Jazirah, “These are very sensitive moments. Throughout the years, we refused to forgive the killer and rejected all money offered for forgiveness. All what I want after I forgave him is reward from Allah.”
The brother of the murdered young man, Sultan Al-Orabi, said, “My father was very sad ever since he buried my younger brother. I was telling my father to forgive because what happened has happened and there is nothing that we can do. But he persisted. I continued my effort until Sheikh Saeed Al-Qahtani met with my father. He was touched by the sheikh’s words and decided to forgive him saying that he wants the rewards from Allah.”
