The Southern Women Charitable Society in Abha stepped in to secure the woman’s release after she was sentenced to death.
“The woman was very happy as she was able to reunite with her eight children who were living with various relatives and she was also pleased with her house,” said Muna Al-Barek, head of the charity’s woman’s wing.
Al-Barek said her organization constructed a house for the woman with the financial support of a philanthropist who had requested anonymity.
“Our committee has been following up the condition of the woman and her children while she was in jail for the last five years as part of our social responsibility,” Al-Barek said.
The released woman said she felt as if she was born again after spending five years behind bars. “I was worried where I would live with my children after my release and who would take care of us.”
She thanked the charity for taking care of her and her family. “I wish to perform Umrah during this holy month of Ramadan,” she said.
The charity had paid SR120,000 in blood money to secure the woman’s release. The woman killed her husband in 2007 following a dispute.
She has five daughters and three boys. The youngest of them was staying with her in prison as he was just a five months old at the time of the murder.
There are hundreds of charitable societies in the Kingdom engaged in various humanitarian activities. Some charities are involved in building low-cost houses for the poor in various parts of the country.
According to a recent study, Saudis make 34.5 percent of their total annual cash donations during Ramadan. Non-cash donations in Ramadan accounted for 22.4 percent of such charity activities around the year.
