Even Saudi Police Can Be Sued

Al-Hakami decries police pressure to drop charges Samir Al-Saadi I Arab News

JEDDAH: Police in Jazan have been pressuring the father of a 16-year-old who was found guilty and executed for the rape and murder of a toddler in 2007 to drop charges against them. Hussein Al-Hakami's son, Mueed, was executed in 2007 for a crime that he allegedly committed when he was 13. Al-Hakami claims police have been pressuring him for the past three days to sign a document canceling charges against Jazan police. "They want me to drop the charges. Police have been meeting me for three consecutive days for that sole purpose," he said. "The king's orders are very clear. They need to show me where Mueed is buried and ask for a DNA test to prove the body is that of my son ... they have done none of this," he said. "They have sat down with me every day for the past few days and given me different excuses and incentives to sign a paper to cancel the charges. I don't care. The police took my son from my home and they are the ones responsible," he said. "I am not going to drop the charges. That should be clear to them by now," he added. Al-Hakami's ordeal began on Monday, July 12, 2004, five days after the discovery of the body of a three-year-old toddler, Nabeel. Police arrived at the Al-Hakami family home in Zihra, a village about 40 km outside Jazan city, looking for Mueed in connection with the death. Al-Hakami alleges that his son was interrogated, convicted and beheaded, without the presence of an attorney or guardian. The father also claims his son's body was never handed to him for a proper family burial nor has he been told where his son was buried. Under Saudi law a minor cannot be held accountable for a crime. The execution of a minor also violates a UN charter on the protection of children that Saudi Arabia has been a signatory of for 12 years. Since Mueed's execution on July 10, 2007, Al-Hakami has not rested in seeking justice for his son's execution. He has frequently visited Riyadh, sent letters to the country's highest authorities, approached the media and visited a number of top officials. With the help of Turki Al-Sudairi, former head of the Human Rights Commission, Al-Hakami appointed lawyer Abdullah Al-Zmami of Al-Zmami Law Firm to fight his case. Al-Zmami has filed a lawsuit against Jazan police demanding SR10 million in compensation and calling for the prosecution of those directly responsible for Mueed's execution. The Court of Grievances' final verdict on the case has not been officially issued to date, said Al-Zmami. Sources, however, say a verbal verdict was read out three months ago.