By Mohammed Jamjoom, CNN
March 19, 2010 10:30 a.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Ali Hussain Sibat faces death sentence for predicting future on TV show
Sibat arrested, tried and sentenced during pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia
Reports say case is due to return to appeals court
(CNN) -- Amnesty International is calling on Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to stop the execution of a Lebanese man sentenced to death for "sorcery."
In a statement released Thursday, the international rights group condemned the verdict and demanded the immediate release of Ali Hussain Sibat, former host of a popular call-in show that aired on Sheherazade, a Beirut based satellite TV channel.
According to his lawyer, Sibat, who is 48 and has five children, would predict the future on his show and give out advice to his audience.
The attorney, May El Khansa, who is in Lebanon, tells CNN her client was arrested by Saudi Arabia's religious police (known as the Mutawa'een) and charged with sorcery while visiting the country in May 2008. Sibat was in Saudi Arabia to perform the Islamic religious pilgrimage known as Umra.
Sibat was then put on trial. In November 2009, a court in the Saudi city of Medina found Sibat guilty and sentenced him to death.
According to El Khansa, Sibat appealed the verdict. The case was taken up by the Court of Appeal in the Saudi city of Mecca on the grounds that the initial verdict was "premature."
El Khansa tells CNN that the Mecca appeals court then sent the case back to the original court for reconsideration, stipulating that all charges made against Sibat needed to be verified and that he should be given a chance to repent.
On March 10, judges in Medina upheld their initial verdict, meaning Sibat is once again sentenced to be executed.
"The Medina court refused the sentence of the appeals court," said El Khansa, adding her client will appeal the verdict once more.
The case has been covered extensively by local media. According to Arab News, an English language Saudi daily newspaper, after the most recent verdict was issued, the judges in Medina issued a statement expressing that Sibat deserved to be executed for having continually practiced black magic on his show, adding that this sentence would deter others from practicing sorcery. Arab News reports that the case will now return to the appeals court in Mecca.
CNN has not been able to reach Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Justice for comment.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Post Archive
-
▼
2010
(954)
-
▼
March
(300)
- 32 gang suspects appear in Tacoma court
- Ricky Martin thanks fans for support
- THE FACE IN THE SHROUD
- Giants, Jets to meet in NFL preseason opener
- Tiger takes spotlight off other contenders
- A view from the Butler campus
- Louis Leterrier on Clash of the Titans
- Bryant 'very doubtful' for Final Four
- 'How to Train Your Dragon' has wall-to-wall action
- Former Rider player dies as result of practice acc...
- 2 bodies, car found in Oklahoma missing child case
- Final Four lineup reflects tourney's wackiness
- The (Short) History Of Twitter’s Plans To Make Money
- Russia cuts time zones to 9 on Sunday
- Penny Auction Website QuiBids.com Saves Consumers ...
- Agent: Det, SF, Cincy epress interest in Pacman
- Page 2 offers budget alternatives for Florida
- Butler rallies to upset No. 1 Syracuse
- Simmons 'critical to ESPN's survival'
- Organizers eye role for Beckham
- 'Nothing' to McNabb trade rumor
- Meyer defends Thompson comments
- Measure to legalize marijuana will be on Californi...
- UTEP's Barbee to coach Auburn
- Strong earthquake hits Philippines
- Purported Bin Laden message hints at retaliation
- James Cameron slams 3D film conversion
- Texas execution of Henry Skinner halted over DNA a...
- Media Invitation - Today, Best Buy Canada holds 1s...
- Obama to sign executive order on abortion limits W...
- NHLPA has yet to approve rule
- Prosecutors seek jail for Arenas
- NFL owners approve OT changes
- Judge rules lesbian high-schooler's First Amendmen...
- Bombs injure at least six in Baghdad
- German court convicts former Nazi hitman
- Clinton to meet Mexican president on drug traffick...
- Thornton, Collison lead way in Paul's return as Ho...
- U.N. report: Let's turn foul water from mass kille...
- CBSSports.com: March Madness On Demand Passes ‘09 ...
- 'Good fat' cuts heart risk by a fifth, study shows
- Goodell to meet with Steelers QB
- Kramer takes over to lead Purdue to sixth Sweet 16...
- Pakistan drone raid 'kills five'
- Hopkins and Jones Jr. make March Madness picks
- Mayweather Jr. tells Mosley “You’re going to have ...
- Johnson's 31 points, 14 boards pace Syracuse in ro...
- Lucious hits 3 at buzzer to cap Michigan State's r...
- Woods gives first interview since crash
- Turner battles back with 24 points as Ohio State a...
- Miller has career night as top-seeded Kentucky cru...
- Kansas State ousts BYU, makes first Sweet 16 appea...
- Three for 3D: ESPN 3D adds Home Run Derby, Sky 3D ...
- Two suspected suicides confirmed at Cornell; total...
- Oh, No. Iowa! No. 1 KU tumbles
- Math Expert Wins Wealth, if He Accepts
- Tennessee rolls over Ohio, secures third Sweet 16 ...
- My Recommendation: Horror flick “The Crazies” only...
- Clark, Shaffrick lead women's field
- Teen arrested in Wal-Mart racial announcement inci...
- Snow, rising waters usher in spring in parts of Mi...
- Earthquake shakes Cuba; no reports of damage yet
- St. Mary’s Knocks Out Villanova
- Sushi eatery accused of selling whale to close
- Smethwick man charged over Banaz Mahmod 'honour' m...
- Entire Nation Picks Same Bracket
- Cornell Rolls to Upset Temple
- Haiti faces new crisis as deluge follows earthquake
- Bobcats upend Hoyas for first tournament win in 27...
- TV presenter gets death sentence for 'sorcery'
- Brothers from Blackburn guilty of terrorist offences
- FDA strengthens regulations to curb smoking by chi...
- News analysis: Google, partners have clout to make...
- Let The Madness Begin!
- Debut NBA Jam trailer looks exactly as it should
- Source: Sandra Bullock Has Left the Family Home
- NHL looking into Wisniewski's hit
- Report Finds Shift Toward Extended Families
- Man guilty of dog attack murder in south London
- Wal-Mart customer: 'I can't go back in'
- Wal-Mart 'appalled' at announcement telling blacks...
- Green Zone: Movie Review
- Nation, world go green for St. Patrick's Day
- Fill Out Your Own Bracket For A Cash Prize
- Obama Takes Kansas to Win NCAA Men's Tournament
- Students benefit from longer school days
- Jordan purchase of Bobcats approved
- Redskins sign quarterback Rex Grossman
- Is Kim Waving Good-Bye to Her Relationship With Re...
- Pakistan Charges Americans With Terrorism
- Tiger Woods to play his way out
- Strickland's FTs, UNC's defense push reigning nati...
- After 3 Suspected Suicides, a Shaken Cornell Reach...
- Haiti estimates $11.5bn needed for reconstruction
- Tyson enters world of pigeon racing
- Kent out as school's winningest coach
- Former CIA spy speaks out in new book about war on...
- Defiant Beckham says he will return after Achilles...
- Why Google Phone Sales Will Still Lag After Coming...
- US hands over prison to the government of Iraq
-
▼
March
(300)
1 comment:
Are you serious, sorcery. Is this man the Wizard of Oz or something. A death sentence for giving predictions on the news. We give predictions on the weather everyday and nobody has went to jail for that. This man has kids, he didn't murder anybody.
Post a Comment