A letter to the King of Saudi Arabia

What follows is my letter to the King of Saudi Arabia in which I am asking him to spare the life of a Canadian citizen who is under a sentence of death because he accidentally killed another person during a schoolyard brawl.

Dear Sir:

I am convinced that Kohail and the others charged with the murder of the young man had no intentions of killing Haraki or any desire to do so. Many Canadians are livid at the Saudi justice system and believe that Kohail didn't get a fair trial. It has been said that he confessed to killing Haraki. With Saudi Arabia’s reputation for torturing suspects, it doesn’t surprise me that the young man made a confession that would damn him. I am sure that under torture, he would admit to starting World War Two also.

Surely Sir, you cannot possibly have forgotten the worldwide outrage that greeted the Saudi court decision last fall to administer 200 lashes to a 20-year-old woman who had been gang raped. The White House called that decision outrageous. Eventually you pardoned the woman.

A few weeks ago, one of the nation's most senior religious authorities directed that two reporters for a mainstream Saudi newspaper be executed for publishing stories suggesting that religions other than Islam are worthy of respect. If a respected religious authority calls for the execution of someone who simply suggests that people holding other faiths deserve respect, doesn't that tell Saudis that the lives of Christians, Jews, Hindu and Buddhists are of lesser value? That must have infuriated you considering the fact that you assured the Pope that Christianity would be tolerated in your kingdom.

As you know, John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator recently said to you, “I was deeply impressed by the commitment of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques to humanitarian causes throughout the world….”

There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that nations that support various humanitarian causes around the world are welcomed everywhere but one is forced to ask as to why such signs of humanity is sorely lacking in your own kingdom.

I looked in the Quo’ran for a passage that would best depict what my thoughts were and I found it at 38.26 “We have made you a ruler in the land; so judge between men with justice”

You exercised your right to judge between men when you pardoned that young woman who was raped and then sentenced to 200 lashes. Could you not also pardon the young man who unintentually killed another young man in what is classed as a schoolyard brawl?

Mercy and forgiveness are attributes that are unfortunately lacking in your kingdom. But as the ruler of Saudia Arabia, you can, by example, bring these two attributes into your nation so that everyone in your kingdom will find justice.

It is unfortunate indeed that Saudi Arabia does not enjoy the reputation it seeks, that is, the reputation of being a just nation. The pardoning of the young woman who was sentenced to 200 lashes because she went into a taxi unaccompanied by a male relative was a giant leap into the realm of justice but one instance of mercy isn’t enough to placate the millions of people worldwide who believe that justice is non existent in your kingdom. I respectfully suggest that pardoning the young man sentenced to death for what may have been an attempt on his part to defend himself, will bring hope to many around the world that justice and mercy really does exist in Saudia Arabia.

May the blessings of Allah be upon you. I remain,

Respectfully yours


Dr. Dahn Batchelor