Kollam (Kerala), January 22
An Indian man from Kerala jailed in Saudi Arabia on charges of partially blinding a Saudi national will not have to pay with an eye for his offence. He has been pardoned.
The good news for A. Naushad came days ahead of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz’s visit to New Delhi, where he will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
Naushad’s family said one of his colleagues telephoned to convey the news on Sunday, saying the Saudi victim of the crime had pardoned him.
Naushad’s 50-year-old mother Nabeeza Beevi told IANS, “Allah is great and we are thankful to all who helped us. I do not know how to thank everyone including the person who pardoned my son.” Naushad, 34, had been languishing in a Saudi jail since 2003 after a scuffle with a Saudi national during which the latter’s one eye was damaged. He later lost the eye.
According to Saudi law, one of Naushad’s eyes could be gouged out for “justice”. But two people could give him the pardon — the victim and the Saudi King.
Naushad’s wife Sugaila is not aware of the development because she is on a train to New Delhi to meet the Saudi King.
“We hope Sugaila will be
able to meet the King and plead with him to see that Naushad is released soon,”
hoped Beevi. — IANS
