Saudi executed after 32 years on death row

Ahmad Abdullah
Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The oldest prisoner in the Kingdom was executed on Tuesday. Abdullah Fandi Al-Shammary, a Saudi, killed another citizen 32 years ago by repeatedly hitting him on the head with a big stick after a brawl broke out among a group of young men living in his neighborhood.

While defending himself, Al-Shammary picked up a stick off the ground and hit his victim, eventually killing him. He was jailed at the age of 21.

After five years, he was found guilty of manslaughter and he paid the blood money to secure his release. He celebrated his release and got married.

Two years after his release Al-Shammary was rearrested when the victim’s family appealed and he was put on trial again.

This time the court sentenced him to death. He was executed at the age of 54 after spending 32 years in prison, the majority of which he spent appealing his case.

Many people on Twitter sympathized with his case and sent 50,000 tweets on the morning of his execution. He memorized the Holy Qur’an during his prison term and was taken 17 times to the execution square.

Some tweets said that he led the prisoners during Fajr prayer on Tuesday and he bade them farewell with a smile, knowing that this was going to be his last prayer.

Other prisoners were crying and hugging him, said the tweeters.

Although Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saad, Deputy Emir of Hail, tried to convince the victim’s son to forgive Al-Shammary, the son insisted that he be executed.

Al-Shammary is survived by his wife and a two-year-old daughter.