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blueta2
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These are two kids who immigrated to Canada 8 yrs ago from Saudi Arabia and went back to visit.
I have mixed feelings over this story.
discuss
Dollard teen might be beheaded in wake of Saudi judge's ruling
18-year-old's brother is already facing death penalty
MAX HARROLD, The Gazette; Canwest News Service contributed to this report
Published: 7 hours ago
A West Island family's ordeal with Saudi Arabian justice has taken a turn for the worse after a Saudi judge's ruling this week that an 18-year-old Canadian may be beheaded for his role in a Syrian teen's death last year.
Sultan Kohail, 18, must be judged under the same terms as his older brother Mohamed, a Saudi court ruled Tuesday.
Mohamed, 23, has been sentenced to be beheaded for his role in a schoolyard brawl in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, in January 2007 that left a 19-year-old man dead. Mohamed has been in prison for 18 months.
Sultan remains free and is living with his family in Jiddah, his uncle Abdul Rauf said yesterday in a phone interview from Jiddah. Sultan is depressed and is spending a lot of time at home, Rauf said.
"It's something hard for him," Rauf said. In April, a youth court had sentenced Sultan to 200 lashes and one year in prison. Now, that sentence has been thrown out and the matter referred back to an adult court.
The boys' father, Ali Kohail, also in Jiddah, said the family is hanging their hopes on yet another appeal to a higher court.
"We could hear something in 15 days," the weary-sounding Kohail said. "We are working very hard with our lawyer, but I don't know what will happen."
The Kohail family lived in Dollard des Ormeaux after immigrating to Canada in 2000. They are Canadian citizens and returned to Saudi Arabia to visit relatives in late 2006.
Dan McTeague, an MP from Ontario who is the Liberal Party's critic for consular services, said in a statement that the Kohails do not deserve such fates.
"The two innocent Canadians were set upon by a gang of 15 youths, some of whom were armed with knives and sticks," McTeague said. "Sultan and Mohamed were running for their lives from their attackers. They did not plan or initiate the murder of anyone. Transferring Sultan Kohail's case to an adult court is very troubling, given the possibility of him receiving the death penalty."
Mahmoud Al-Ken, a Kohail family friend and spokesperson who lives in Montreal, said the Canadian government has done little to help the brothers.
"We need ministerial-level talks," Al-Ken said in a phone interview from Hims, Syria, where he is vacationing.
As long as the Canadian government doesn't take this as seriously as the Brenda Martin case, no serious progress will be made, Al-Ken said.
Martin, 51, a Canadian imprisoned in Mexico for two years who was convicted of the equivalent of money laundering, was brought back to Canada in May after meetings between Canadian and Mexican officials.
Al-Ken said the Saudi court's next decision on the Kohail brothers' cases might take three or four weeks, or longer.
They could confirm the death penalty for Mohamed - and hand the same fate to Sultan - or they could hold another trial, he said.
The Kohails have maintained their innocence and asked for another trial that would review more of the evidence, including a cellphone video of the brawl.
In a statement emailed to The Gazette, Shaun Tinkler, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Department, said: "Canada will pursue all avenues to assist Mr. Kohail. We urge Saudi authorities to overturn the death sentence. We are deeply disappointed at the verdict handed down by Saudi authorities."
[email protected]
I have mixed feelings over this story.
discuss
Dollard teen might be beheaded in wake of Saudi judge's ruling
18-year-old's brother is already facing death penalty
MAX HARROLD, The Gazette; Canwest News Service contributed to this report
Published: 7 hours ago
A West Island family's ordeal with Saudi Arabian justice has taken a turn for the worse after a Saudi judge's ruling this week that an 18-year-old Canadian may be beheaded for his role in a Syrian teen's death last year.
Sultan Kohail, 18, must be judged under the same terms as his older brother Mohamed, a Saudi court ruled Tuesday.
Mohamed, 23, has been sentenced to be beheaded for his role in a schoolyard brawl in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, in January 2007 that left a 19-year-old man dead. Mohamed has been in prison for 18 months.
Sultan remains free and is living with his family in Jiddah, his uncle Abdul Rauf said yesterday in a phone interview from Jiddah. Sultan is depressed and is spending a lot of time at home, Rauf said.
"It's something hard for him," Rauf said. In April, a youth court had sentenced Sultan to 200 lashes and one year in prison. Now, that sentence has been thrown out and the matter referred back to an adult court.
The boys' father, Ali Kohail, also in Jiddah, said the family is hanging their hopes on yet another appeal to a higher court.
"We could hear something in 15 days," the weary-sounding Kohail said. "We are working very hard with our lawyer, but I don't know what will happen."
The Kohail family lived in Dollard des Ormeaux after immigrating to Canada in 2000. They are Canadian citizens and returned to Saudi Arabia to visit relatives in late 2006.
Dan McTeague, an MP from Ontario who is the Liberal Party's critic for consular services, said in a statement that the Kohails do not deserve such fates.
"The two innocent Canadians were set upon by a gang of 15 youths, some of whom were armed with knives and sticks," McTeague said. "Sultan and Mohamed were running for their lives from their attackers. They did not plan or initiate the murder of anyone. Transferring Sultan Kohail's case to an adult court is very troubling, given the possibility of him receiving the death penalty."
Mahmoud Al-Ken, a Kohail family friend and spokesperson who lives in Montreal, said the Canadian government has done little to help the brothers.
"We need ministerial-level talks," Al-Ken said in a phone interview from Hims, Syria, where he is vacationing.
As long as the Canadian government doesn't take this as seriously as the Brenda Martin case, no serious progress will be made, Al-Ken said.
Martin, 51, a Canadian imprisoned in Mexico for two years who was convicted of the equivalent of money laundering, was brought back to Canada in May after meetings between Canadian and Mexican officials.
Al-Ken said the Saudi court's next decision on the Kohail brothers' cases might take three or four weeks, or longer.
They could confirm the death penalty for Mohamed - and hand the same fate to Sultan - or they could hold another trial, he said.
The Kohails have maintained their innocence and asked for another trial that would review more of the evidence, including a cellphone video of the brawl.
In a statement emailed to The Gazette, Shaun Tinkler, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Department, said: "Canada will pursue all avenues to assist Mr. Kohail. We urge Saudi authorities to overturn the death sentence. We are deeply disappointed at the verdict handed down by Saudi authorities."
[email protected]
