|
'Religious police should die'
01/07/2007 22:02 - (SA)
Riyadh - Four men, including three members of Saudi Arabia's religious police, have gone on trial for their alleged involvement in the death of a man in detention - an unprecedented case against a powerful force long resented for intimidating people.
The religious police enforce the kingdom's strict Islamic lifestyle, patrolling public places to ensure women are covered; the sexes don't mingle; shops close five times a day for prayers and men go to the mosque and worship.
The man's family is demanding the death penalty for those found guilty of the death of their relative, Ahmed al-Bulaiwi, a retired border patrol guard in his early 50s. He died in custody shortly after his June 1 arrest for being alone with a woman who was not a relative - an act considered an offence in the kingdom.
'Demand execution for those found guilty'
Audah al-Bulaiwi, who is representing the family in court, said three judges presided over the first hearing in the case in the northern city of Tabuk.
He said the defendants - three members of the religious police and a fourth believed to be from the regular police - were present in the courtroom.
"We are demanding execution for those found guilty," he said.
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which those convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery are executed in public with a sword.
A new hearing has been set for Tuesday, said Audah al-Bulaiwi.
Local media reported that commission members arrested the man after they observed the woman, believed to be in her 50s, getting into his car near an amusement park.
Under the kingdom's rules, a woman cannot drive and can only go out in public with her father, brother, son or husband.
An investigation showed that al-Bulaiwi, who supplemented his pension by working as a driver, was asked by the family of the woman to drive her home.
An official medical report cleared the commission members, saying al-Bulaiwi died of natural causes.
- AP
|
News
