Just like any other society, homicide is surfacing to the top of the news in the Kingdom thanks to technologically new media sources. News stories on local murders are frequently reported and people follow them closely.

Murder cannot go unpunished. However, on May 31, 24-year-old Faisal Al-Malki, was pardoned by the father of his victim at the last minute for the sake of gaining divine reward. Originally, the parents of the murdered man had demanded the amount of SR 8 million to pardon Al-Malki, who killed their son during a fight — but it was an amount Al-Malki’s family was unable to raise. On the date of the execution, the victim’s father announced his pardon, annulling the execution.

Saudi society also followed closely news of the expected execution of 18-year-old Khalid Al-Harbi. When Al-Harbi was 14 years old, a 24-year-old assailant attacked him and attempted to rape him. Trying to defend himself, Al-Harbi stabbed him with a knife. After spending four years in custody, Al-Harbi reached legal age this year. He would have faced execution on Aug. 17, had his family failed to collect the SR 30 million conciliation money, which was ultimately donated by members of his mother’s tribe.

However, what is raising more concern is the way families of murder victims are dealing with the issue of blood money. Under Shariah law, the family of the murdered person can be compensated with an amount of money to drop the demand for execution.

Reconciliation efforts are often attempted between the families of the victim and the killer. Their purpose in origin is to make amends, save more bloodshed and reflect the essence of Islam, which is forgiveness.

“In the past, blood money was not regarded with respect,” said legal consultant and lawyer Lahim Al-Naser. Al-Naser now a days greed has taken over people and the whole issue of forgiveness has been sidetracked. Society has changed into a materialistic one, in which blood money has become a trade with exaggerated demands.

Yet, Al-Naser also said the governor or Al-Wali could not determine or limit the amount of blood money, as this might cause the family of the murdered person to change their minds and demand capital punishment.

On the other hand, Hassan Al-Saif, former judge and legal skills trainer, stressed that there are three scenarios in the case of voluntary manslaughter: capital punishment, a fixed amount of blood money to be paid to the deceased’s family, or an amount of compensation according to the family’s demands, which is the real issue of concern.

“After sentencing the killer to capital punishment, the victim’s family has the choice either to insist on the execution, take the fixed blood money, or to be compensated until satisfied,” said Al-Saif.

In the past the fixed amount was SR 120,000, but this was increased to SR 400,000 in 2011 for murder.

While the diya amount was raised, Al-Saif pointed out, the compensation amount remained the same. A directive by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah stated it should not exceed SR 500,000. “This encouraged families of victims to demand higher and sometimes exaggerate amounts,” said Al-Saif.

Al-Saif indicated that although both amounts were the sole right of the deceased’s family, pardoning the killer is more commendable and it means annulling the death sentence for nothing in return.

It has become a business, stressed the former judge, describing the mediators as brokers who benefit from the whole deal through getting a percentage.

On the other hand, although Lahim Al-Naser admitted that it is not in the hands of the province’s governor or the government to limit or specify the conciliation amount, he stressed the importance of monitoring the mediation process to avoid turning it into business.

“It is the role of the media, civil society institutions and the government to call on people to initiate an unconditioned pardon for the sake of kindness, and to recognize its great value. We cannot underestimate homicide or manslaughter, but at the same time we should not play on the society’s emotions by inviting people to donate the demanded amount unmonitored,” he said.