Beish family celebrates son’s return from Yemeni jail

BEISH — Fadi Ibrahim Al-Haqawi has returned home after spending more than one year and eight months in a Yemeni prison following a traffic accident.

Al-Haqawi arrived at Al-Tawwal port in Jazan Tuesday to an emotional welcome by family members who were waiting for him at the port.

Yemini authorities released him as a humanitarian gesture after intervention by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Al-Madinah newspaper visited Al-Haqawi at his family home in Beish. “Thank you all for visiting us in Yemen and in Beish and thanks to everyone who had a role in conveying our plight to the authorities,” he said.

Al-Haqawi thanked King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who persistently followed up his case. He also prayed for the soul of the late Crown Prince Naif, who also played an active role in the case.

Al-Haqawi said throughout his incarceration at Al-Hudaidah prison in Yemen, he was “haunted by the specter of contracting diseases but God saved him.”

Sharifa Al-Hassan, Al-Haqawi’s mother, expressed deep appreciation for the efforts made by the Saudi government to bring her son home.

 “Our government did not abandon us and we do appreciate their substantial efforts in following up our son’s case,” Al-Hassan said.

She prayed to God to preserve King Abdullah and the discerning leadership of the country in the interest of its people.

She remembered Prince Naif, who had initiated efforts to get her son released, and prayed to Allah to shower His mercy on him. She expressed her gratitude to Prince Faisal Bin Khaled, who had recommended the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his case and followed up the matter with the ministry.

Al-Hassan said Prince Saud had borne the SR75,000 compensation payment on behalf of Al-Haqawi. She also thanked Prince Muhammad bin Naif, Assistant Minister of Interior, for his support. — SG