JEDDAH: The father of a Syrian teenager who died in a schoolyard brawl that involved two Canadians and a Jordanian said he wants to see a final murder verdict before considering whether to pardon his son’s killers.
“I want a verdict,” said Mueen El-Hiraki, father of the deceased Monzer El-Hiraki, 19, who underscored that his family isn't seeking bloodthirsty vengeance. “When a verdict is issued then there will be talk. I want to know why they killed him. What did he do to them? He finished high school and wanted to be a dentist. I don’t understand why the Canadian government is defending the murderers.” Monzer died in the schoolyard fight in January 2007.
A general court in Jeddah sentenced 23-year-old Canadian national Mohammed Kohail and 22-year-old Jordanian national Mohanna Ezzat to death for the murder. Meanwhile, a juvenile court sentenced Kohail’s brother Sultan, 18, to 200 lashes and a year in prison. However, in a twist to the story, an appeals court threw out the ruling and ordered a retrial in an adult court. Sultan may also face the death penalty if found guilty.
“We presented new evidence, which we were not able to submit during the investigations,” said Obaid Al-Aayafi, the lawyer representing the El-Hiraki family.
Al-Aayafi said the evidence was crucial in overturning the previous ruling, and that the family was able to identify and locate new witnesses via a mobile phone recording of the fight. Five witnesses testified against Sultan while another six testified against Kohail.
According to the El-Hiraki family, Monzer went to school to pick up his 19-year-old cousin, Raneem, who was harassed by the Kohail brothers and Ezzat. Eyewitnesses reported that six youths first attacked Raneem’s 27-year-old elder brother Abdulrahman, who was also at the school at the time.
Monzer stepped in to push Abdulrahman’s attackers off, at which the Kohail brothers and Ezzat turned on him. The 19-year-old was then chased and heavily beaten. He received multiple injuries, including a blow to the head causing loss of vision and a blow to his reproduction organs causing internal bleeding, which led to his death.
The Kohail family is appealing the ruling concerning Mohammed Kohail’s execution, claiming that confessions were forced. If the verdict is upheld and then endorsed by the Higher Supreme Council, the ruling will be sent for final approval to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
However, according to the Kingdom’s law, the pardon right is reserved for the next-of-kin.
In a previous interview, Abdul Rauf Kohail, Mohammed Kohail and Sultan’s uncle, confirmed the retrial but refused to discuss the matter further.
“It is hard for the family at this time. We are all praying. We don’t know what will happen,” he said.
The Canadian government has taken a particular interest in the case with Canadian officials raising the case at top levels in their visits to the Kingdom. In a previous statement the Canadian Embassy in Riyadh said Canada would continue to pursue all avenues to assist the Kohail brothers.
“The Canadian consular officials are actively providing assistance and support, and remain in regular contact with the Kohail family and their legal counsel. Due to the Privacy Act, we cannot comment further on specific details of the case,” the statement said.
Following news of the retrial, Liberal Canadian MP Dan McTeague, who has been following the case, has called on the Conservative government “to make sure the pair receive due process.”
The Kohail brothers are Canadian citizens of Palestinian origin. They moved to Canada in 2000 from Saudi Arabia and settled in Dollard des Ormeaux, only to return to the Kingdom later.
