Walk for Freedom

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In 2008, I wrote about awareness of the Death Penalty in Saudi Arabia (Reward– A Sword) emphasizing to my readers and fellow OFWs that in Saudi Arabia if you take someone’s life you will pay your own life as well. 

But murders or killing someone are not the only crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia,  even adultery and consensual sexual relations between adults of the same sex is punishable by death through public stoning. Scary, isn’t it? Particularly if the crime committed resulted in murder or aggravated murder, the method of death penalty is beheading. 

Aggravated murder is an offense such as murder during a robbery or murder involving seclusion, treachery, or other methods rendering the victim helpless. While murder is any sane person who intentionally kills a person with a weapon. (Taken from Death Penalty Worldwide) 

In 2013 according to press agencies (AFP), there were 78  executions in Saudi Arabia by way of beheading.  And one of our own Joselito Zapanta is on the list to be beheaded in 2014 if our Government fails to come up with the blood money demanded from the family of the Sudanese national whom he killed in 2009 in a moment of blind fury over a rent dispute. 

While Zapanta’s freedom is under negotiation, another big blow to the Filipino community happens just yesterday, a Filipino national with British passport was found killed stabbed by fellow Filipino. According to the Philippine Embassy the perpetrator was arrested and confessed to the crime. The facts of the case were already reported today to the Office of  Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs-DFA. 

The victim works as a nurse in one of the Saudi government hospitals in Riyadh. He was found dead in a pool of blood after the Saudi authorities forcibly opened the apartment door of the victim in response to a claim of the victim fellow worker that their colleague haven’t reported to work.   The victim’s fatal stab wound was found in the neck, according to Al-Riyadh online news. 

I just hope and pray that the latest happening in the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia could not affect  Lito Zapanta’s walk for freedom. – BongA

كما جاء في البيان أنه تم تلقي بلاغ أحد المواطنين الذي تقدم به إلى مركز شرطة المعذر بتاريخ 15/5/1435هـ الذي يعمل في مستشفى حكومي عن تغيب أحد ممرضي المستشفى وهو بريطاني من أصل فلبيني يبلغ من العمر 53 سنة، وبالانتقال إلى مقر شقته في حي المعذر بصحبة الخبراء المختصين فتح باب الشقة ووجد مسجى على الأرض ويسبح في بركة من الدماء، وبه أثر طعنة في العنق وقد فارق الحياة، و تم إجراء التحريات اللازمة التي أسفرت عن التعرف على هوية القاتل والذي اتضح أنه فلبيني يعمل مقدم طلبات في أحد المطاعم، بعد أن سرق أجهزة حاسب من شقة المجني عليه، وجرى القبض عليه وأوقف وتم إشعار هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام لاستكمال إجراءات القضية.  http://www.alriyadh.com/net/article/920482