Oct 16 2012

Saudi Arabia sending money to its detainees in Iraq

Azzaman, October 16, 2012

The Saudi authorities, in coordination with the Iraqi government, are sending money to their detainees in Iraq, a Saudi envoy said.

The envoy Hamad al-Hajiri said there were 66 Saudi citizens in Iraqi jails. Six of them have been sentenced to death on charges of terrorism.

However, none has been executed so far and the Saudi authorities, the envoy said, were trying their best to have their execution postponed.

“We respect the decisions by Iraq and its courts whether we agree with the nature of the rulings or not. Every state’s judiciary is independent,” he said. “However, we are discussing with the Iraqi Foreign Ministry and the Red Cross the possibility of having the implementation of the death sentences postponed.”

Hajiri said a postponement would make it possible for Saudi-appointed lawyers to pursue the cases against the Saudi detainees.

The government says there are many nationals from Arab countries in Iraqi prisons on terrorism charges.

However, the authorities refuse to issue exact figures.

Iraqis or foreigners found guilty of carrying out acts of terror face death sentence in Iraq and scores of Iraqi national have been executed so far on similar charges.

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