On February 13, 2008 the organization Human Rights Watch sent a letter to King Abdullah bin Abd al-‘Aziz Al Saud on behalf of Fawza Falih, who has been sentenced to death by beheading for the alleged crimes of “witchcraft, recourse to jinn, and slaughter of animals”.
The letter highlights in aggravating detail the gaping flaws in the Saudi Arabian justice system. It starts with her being held in detention at the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice for “witchcraft”. Does this mean Saudi Arabia has their own Vice Squad? You know, like this or this? What did this wily “witch” do? According to my pals with the Vice Squad a man allegedly became impotent after being “bewitched” and a divorced woman (Can there be divorced women in Iran? With the way the Vice guys are going I just assumed they wouldn’t allow divorces anymore.) reportedly returned to her ex-husband during the month predicted by the witch said to have cast the spell.
Misery loves company. Read the letter so you can feel my pain. I’ve got to say, Christoph Wilcke, the letter’s author, has laid out a rational argument for a pardon for Fawza Falih. Let’s hope it helps.
