RIYADH: An appeal status is still unresolved in the death verdict of a Turkish barber who has been in jail for 15 months amid grief, fear and suspense.
Sabri Bogday, who was running a barbershop in Jeddah, was handed down the death penalty in April for blasphemy. “The case is in the appeals court in Jeddah, and the Turkish mission is awaiting the court’s decision at the moment,” said Turkish Ambassador Naci Koru.
“No Turkish national has been executed in Saudi Arabia in the last 15 years and we will exert all efforts, with the help of Saudi officials, to see this man is set free,” he said.
Bogday was arrested in Jeddah after a quarrel with a neighbor. He moved to Jeddah from the southeastern Turkish province of Hatay to run a barbershop. Saudi officials arrested Bogday after accusations by his Egyptian neighbor, a tailor with whom he had a brawl, of blasphemous remarks.
Koru said Turkish President Abdullah Gul wrote to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah requesting a pardon for Bogday.
“The appeal made by the Turkish president to King Abdullah has been well received and hence we expect some positive outcome,” said Koru. “We would go to a higher court, even if the appeal is not accepted, but we are quite optimistic about some good developments in favor of this poor barber.”
Another Turkish barber, who also faced the death for allegedly slandering the Prophet (peace be upon him), was released last month in Riyadh.
“Ersin Taze left for Turkey a month ago,” said Koru.
Taze was released after a Saudi court dismissed the case for lack of evidence. The religious police arrested Taze after a Saudi filed a complaint that the barber insulted the Prophet.
Following an appeal by the Turkish Embassy, Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman intervened in the case of Taze and ordered local officials to expedite the legal process, which led to his release.
