JEDDAH, 23 December 2006 — Muhammad Saleh Al-Atwi, a young Saudi from Tabuk, was sure that he would be executed for murdering another Saudi as the official read out the verdict before carrying out the sentence. But God had destined that he should live.
Hammad ibn Ali Dhowaihi, father of Al-Atwi’s victim, shocked everybody who had gathered to witness the beheading by saying: “I have pardoned the killer of my son, seeking the reward of God.”
The announcement made everybody happy, especially the friends and relatives of Al-Atwi, who shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) in gratitude for God’s mercy.
Al-Atwi had spent about three years in prison before he was taken to the designated place where the execution was to be carried out, press reports said.
Dhowaihi signed the documents of pardon at the Tabuk police station and at the house of Chief Judge Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Humaid. “Many prominent personalities had asked me to pardon the killer of my son. I did not listen to them. Finally, I decided to forgive him without accepting any money or other material rewards, just to win the pleasure of God,” he said. However, he has asked Al-Atwi and his brothers to leave Tabuk to avoid any tension between the two families in future.
Tabuk Deputy Governor Aamir Al-Gharir and his assistant Muhammad Al-Haqbani commended Dhowaihi for pardoning the killer of his son.
“This reflects that our society includes a lot of kindhearted people. Dhowaihi has set a good example for generosity,” Al-Gharir said. Al-Atwi, 23, expressed his deep sorrow for killing Dhowaihi’s son and said he did it in a moment of temerity. “I had written my will and asked my family to bury me nearby my father’s grave.” He said he would perform Umrah to thank God for giving him a second lease of life.
In a similar incident in Al-Kharma, Dabsan Muhammad Al-Harithy was pardoned for killing his colleague Muhammad Nasser Al-Subaie as a result of mediation efforts by tribal leaders and members of the committee for improving relations between people.
“What was happened to my son was destined by God. I forgive the killer seeking the pleasure of God in this holy month,” said Sheikh Nasser Al-Subaie, father of the victim.
