A man in the western province of Saudi Arabia on death row has been taken off death row thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous man of 1 million Saudi riyals in exchange for the victims family pardon. When news reached the killers mother she feel to her knees crying and thanking god and the anonymous donor for saving her sons life.

Commentary

That was the news story and for those of you that don’t understand it let me explain. Saudi Arabia follows Islamic law and part of that law is the concept of “eye for an eye, arm for an arm, and life for a life” however the victim if alive may pardon the offender as well as the victims family if hes dead may pardon the killer from death and usually the victims family makes demands for the pardon. The demands can range to as simple as an apology, memorizing the Koran, up to demanding millions of riyals. So when money if required for the pardon there is usually donations provided from different parties to help the killers family as such an act of saving a persons life is encouraged in Islam.

Personally I oppose the death penalty but I also believe I have no right to deniy the victims family the right for revange with in the law. So I believe the Islamic system is the right system in this situation however they needs to be a law to control the amount of money for a persons life as a few families have abused the system and turned into an investment rather than a revange.