Lama Al Ghamdi was beaten with electric cables, her back broken and half of her head smashed in. She was sexually assaulted and her anal canal torn open which the beast also tried to burn closed. She was brought to the hospital where she remained in ICU for 10 months and then died last October.
Yes there is actually a judge in this day and age who made such a ruling, as ridiculous, horrific and unbelievable this may sound. And this is the image these sick men are giving to the world about Islam. No wonder people think it's an evil religion.
The full story can be read on Saudi Woman's blog: http://saudiwoman.me/2013/01/31/rest-in-peace-lama/
Omaima Al Najjar also wrote about the background of this case: http://omaimanajjar.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/islamic-preacher-getaway-with-a-murder/
I would call Faihan Al Ghamdi an animal, but even animals have more integrity and wouldn't do this to their offspring.
Sick bastards like this exist everywhere in the world but in Saudi-Arabia they can actually get away with their actions. In this so called model state of Islam, men can get away with murdering their children (especially daughters), raping their wives and beating the shit out of their daughters with only minor inconvenience. The courts will always side with the man. After all he is the head of the family and he has the right to treat his "property" as he wishes.
Abuse of women and children are always treated as minor offenses in the Sharia courts. Blood money paid for the heirs of a female victim is half the amount of a male victims. See from the below blood money chart how the life of a woman in Saudi-Arabia is valued always half less that of a male:
- 300,000 riyals if the victim is a Muslim man
- 150,000 riyals if a Muslim woman
- 150,000 riyals if a Christian or Jewish man
- 75,000 riyals if a Christian or Jewish woman
- 6,666 riyals if a man of any other religion
- 3,333 riyals if a woman of any other religion
Truly sickening.
Quran does not mention the amount of money to be paid or any differentiation between the sexes.
"We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers."
This misogynist attitude and rulings come solely from a patriarchal society, not religion, although some of these clerics do try to justify their verdicts based on weak Hadith. Compare this child rapist-killers 4 month sentence to the recent case of the Sri Lankan maid that was executed without fair trial for killing a baby placed in her inexperienced care.
Abusive Saudi men know that they can beat, rape and abuse their women and children without any harsh punishments. Saudi-Arabia's judicial system doesn't help the abused women and always backs up the abusive men. The law serves as a haven for these kind of men.
According to Saudi Woman's article, if the woman reports the abuse to the police, the Hai'a (religious police) and her guardian (her abuser) are called to harass the victim out of reporting it for up to four hours before the social services are called. How many women in that situation are actually strong enough to face these bullies and end up going back home to her abuser?
A while ago I was faced with the difficult situation of my friend here suffering physical abuse from her husband. She's a foreign wife with a Saudi husband. Her husband has abused her for years even before they moved to Saudi-Arabia. They have one child and he had even beaten her while she was pregnant. Now I'm sure that any woman who has been in that situation knows how difficult it is to leave and how there always seems to be a time of calm and the abuse ends. The husband becomes an "angel", only for the abuse to start up again.
Word of warning to any woman outside Saudi-Arabia currently dating, engaged to or married to a Saudi man with an abusive history: DO NOT under ANY circumstances move to Saudi-Arabia with him, EVER. He WILL continue the abuse here. He might tell you he promises to change. He will, but for the WORSE. Even if he promises to go to a psychologist to get treatment, he won't change his ways. Even if he cries, begs you to come, promises you the world..It simply won't work like that. Don't be naive and trust these men. Instead my advice to you is run the other direction and never look back.
If you end up in KSA with him, he will most likely keep you as a prisoner and limit your life and all the contact you have to the outer world. I have personally seen and heard of women like this. He will not give you a phone or maybe even let you use the internet. If he hits you, no one will or can help you. No laws will protect you. Your life will become hell. His family will not help you, they will protect him. I am not exaggerating. Saudi-Arabia is the worst place in the world to be with an abusive, controlling husband, period.
So on to the case of the woman I mentioned. Her husband had beaten her so bad she broke some bones. She didn't have a cell phone because her husband had not given her one, and since they'd recently moved, she didn't even know where she lived. Her only way to contact anyone was through Facebook. The husband had locked her up in a room without windows and left the house with the child. Since she doesn't know anyone in Riyadh, she asked me for help. Together with another friend we were trying to help her to find out where the apartment was located so that we could go and take her to the hospital since she was in severe pain.
We couldn't figure out where she was and since she couldn't even see outside to give some landmarks, she remained in her agony alone in the apartment and there was nothing anyone could do about it. She asked me the number to the police, she wanted to call them from the husbands phone when he came back. In any other country I would've encouraged her to call the police and report him. In Saudi-Arabia however it's not a good idea, especially if you're a foreign woman.
Will the police believe her or the husband? What if he tells them she fell? The woman is not Muslim, most likely they will believe the husband over her. What if she makes the report in any case, who will protect her from the husbands rage afterwards? There are no shelters for her to go to. No relatives to help. Her husband's family would most likely say it's normal and nothing that can be done about it. Us friends could take her in, but would the husband allow that? Of course not, at least not with the child. He might get upset at her making the report and send her back to her home country. He has the power to do so, and to keep their daughter in Saudi-Arabia and the woman would never see her again. If the case ever were to go forward, the judge would just brush it off by saying she deserved it by disobeying the husband and that he had the right to beat her.
So I told my friend, don't call the police. You will just get yourself into more trouble. What I did advise her is to get out of the country with her child and never come back. She's going for vacation to her home country and I sincerely hope she finds the strength to leave him and never returns to Saudi-Arabia.
Back to the story of Lama. There's still a little hope for Fayhan Al Ghamdi to be charged with capital punishment but her mother is from a very poor family and they haven't been able to get a lawyer yet. There is going to be another hearing this Sunday. Hopefully the family would be able to get a good lawyer for her and they can appeal the sentence to get this monster locked up. Fayhan Al Ghamdi deserves the same fate as he inflicted upon his daughter.
What is important now is to get her story out there. Spread the word, tell the world about this little angel and her monster father and the cowardly misogynist men who stand behind him. Paying blood money for killing your own children is a disgrace and crime toward all children and women in the world. Al Ghamdi deserves the death penalty for his atrocious crime. This man is sick and will most likely commit such horrendous acts again. Help Lama's mother get justice by forwarding her story.
I hope there is a very very special place waiting for Fayhan Al Ghamdi in hell.
UPDATE: Lama's mother Syeda Ali has a lawyer and the trial has been postponed two weeks. There is no official verdict yet and Lama's mother is refusing blood money and pushing for death sentence for Fayhan Al-Ghamdi, who remains in jail awaiting trial.
No blood money has been paid yet nor was Fayhan Al Ghamdi set free, despite many news sources reporting he was released.
60 comments:
I just want to cry. This is so heartbreaking - there are no words. There is something wrong with the Shariah legal system that allows this type of crime - and getting away with it - to prevail.
And your friend should leave the country and never look back.
OMG! This is unbelievable! I just can't imagine this to be true...it's such a horror! I'm shocked...why would anyone do such a thing??? Where was the mother of this poor child, why wasn't the child defended, I would have banged the beast on its head with a lamp and run away. If he can just walk back home like nothing ever happend then there is no shariah law there! TRIBAL-ANIMAL LAW RULES SAUDI-ARABIA! Someone should do smth...this can't be happening...
http://bookofflair.blogspot.com/
Thank you Layla again for your great post, I will defenetly share this to all of my friends all around the world and ofcourse to Finland. This just makes me to cry, it is so horrible..
Susie-Me too, I've been really depressed about this today and just very disappointed in this country.
I'm usually trying to be positive but right now I feel hopeless.
Sara T- The mother and father are divorced, and the Sharia court had previously given the custody of Lama to the father, who prevented the mother from seeing her child..Another example of injustice and complete disregard of the well being of the mother and child.
She only knew what happened when she was called to the hospital to see her like that..
Thank you Madame Kissankulma.
The mother of that angel little girl should go hungry but never except that blood money from him regardless of how poor she is. and this pig needs to be executed in the most barbaric way possible. HAYWANAT
What a tragedy, I really have no words from my anger and frustration. Something really has to be done and I truly hope WOMEN and the good people of Saudi Arabia wake up and take action. This simply cannot be tolerated and go without severe punishment at 21st century, regardless of culture. Murdering one's own CHILD and in this unspeakable way. I wish there will be an international campaign to honor her memory and to finally change things for better for the women and children of Saudi Arabia. RIP.
Laylah thank you so much, Allah reward you for bringing awareness to this. Is there any way we can donate some money to the mother of Lama to help her get a lawyer? And I will forward you blog post to everyone I know. Things have got to change in that stinkin' place.
-H
This made me so sad but thank you for sharing this because it's important to spread a word about this case, I'll share it in my blog to my readers asap.
One can find monsters like this guy all over the world. One believes though that once they are brought before a judge, justice will be served. And they would be a disgrace for their family and cast away from society. This sense for lack of justice is a key factor for all expats to leave this country. And it takes people like you to push for changes. BLUE ABAYA keep the faith. Women of Saudia you deserve so much more.
This is one reason why all countries need to create a formal legal system and not rely on rulings based on tendentious texts of dubious veracity.
Thank you Laylah for being brave enough to publish this story and comment on it. It is outrageous that in this is tolerated in the legal system. From a human rights perspective, something should change. You are bringing awareness to many. I am sad and feel for the women and children of KSA.
Islam hadiths and rulings are all same for all muslim nations. Thanks to UAE for the due respect, fair trials and judgments to the victims they may be locals or expats.
UAE has just outlined and is starting to enforce Wudeema's Law in honor of the girl who was abused and tortured to death by her own father. Great child protection it will be alhamdulillah for the children will be much safe from any kind of cruelty.
Insha ALLAH women and children in Saudi will get their protection rights very soon
But women need to take action so they will be heard.
Most likely he put it in his own perverted head he was not the father of the child with the excuse of the 'ex-wife had cheated and got pregnant.' I'm sure he gave the judge that reason. in private.
And yes on the don't go to Saudi if your man is hot tempered. really now, girls.
Omer: So true. I dseond that. But if the person is influential the governments always try to delay the excuction so you have to accept the money ect. May Allah give the mother strength, ameen, not to question herself at least and to be strong for justice and her daughter's memory. Ameen.
All I have to say in short just to emphasize on the wonderful legal system.....if the punishment is to pay blood money to the family how does that work when he's the father?? Who does the money go to...the exwife? Surely not!
this is why allah placed islam here to sort the worst of min kind out yes it is all true but not all saudi men are bad most yes but im lucky i was blessed with an amazing saudi husband who gave me a free islamic wonderful life but the country is bad and rules are bad and it is ridden in society its who u no not what u know but allah knows everything in this backwards lands
Oh daughters and sons, or more precisely, the bipedal native mega herds of Arabia ,the time is long overdue to wake up at last from your long comatose state to shake off the shackles of slavery and rise en masse to cleanse your-and my- homeland from the organically linked double- strand plague of Wahhabi religion and the ruling House of Saud .
LeoOfArabia
As i see it.This is Gods fault. lets face it this man had nothing to do with this. just pay money its his Right? your God your religion. its clear to me that the belief in this God is just accepted. shame on you all.
Memmu- I wish so too, like the one for Malala..but Malala made it alive, Lama was not as lucky!
H- Thank you, and YES there is a way to forward money to her, I have her full name and bank account info from the people helping her. So if you or anyone else wants to donate anything to her (even a small amount would help!)then pls email me blueabaya@gmail.com
We can't start a fund raiser it's illegal.
thank you Petra!
Omer-lets hope she stays strong and keep refusing to take it,she has other children to take care of and no income and now facing this trial.
Jerry-spot on, there needs to be clear guidelines at least, not just randomness!
Thank you Catherine Wagner! I hope that by spreading awareness, things will change..if even a little, slowly, somehow for the better. It's always worth trying.
Omani Princess-amen, lets hope so. I can't imagine what she's going through, nobody should ever have to go through this, loosing a child is one thing, but by the hands of her father, and in such a way..it takes things to a totally different level.
anonymous-I agree, and can attest to the fact how many great Saudi men there are out there. My own husband, and the husbands of many of my friends here are true gems.
Monsters like him are in every country..but the point here is, only in Saudi will he get away with it.
Appalling and Disgusting to think that any Perverted Monster who abuses and kills a child should not deserve the death sentence himself! Thanks for sharing this story even though it made me physically sick to read it. Things must change in Saudi Arabia! May little Lama rest in peace and may Allah grant peace and strenth to her Mom, who must just be devastated. May the perpetrator wake up in hell.
are you kidding me why is it illegal? argh!!! i will contact you today insha allah. H
Oh and Laylah is it possible to please put that info about donating money up in a new post or on your twitter feed? Just incase ppl didn't realise it's possible and maybe they won't read the comments on here or something. Jazakallah khair, thank you for your efforts!!
I have been advised not to post about it. Political prisoners have been taken for gathering funds..
please email me!
Allah SWT has blessed me with two lovely girls - I pray that this demon burn in the fire of jahannam eternally & what he has done to this innocent will never go unpunished - for I have NO faith in these bloody desert pirates, these usurpers & their law, but I DO have faith in the justice of ALLAH SWT & the promise of our beloved RasoolAllah SAW.
Aameen summa Aameen.
AstagfurAllah! There are bad people like this all over the world and I hear about sick stories like this all the time. I have no idea why they would let him go with we have Islamic courts that have killed rapist for less. How could they let him go and do you know why they have said they did?
Btw I have not been able to find any actual news articles that state she was raped by her father? Not that beating and killing her is less but was curious where that came from (not someones blog)..
This is a very tragic story. And it is horrifying to me that the laws are so awful. I think any group which allows such horrific treatment of women and children without severe penalties is a broken one.
Hi Layla, it is just an idea, do you know the site " because i am a girl" may be you can contact thise organization , they try to abolish that girls for example get less food education etc. it in differnt languages so can reach more people.
I have shared this in fbook, but i think th western people are a litte bit tired of all these ismalic horrors everyday.. take care greetings from spain An
Aafke-it wasn't the "invisible skydaddy" who made up that chart for the blood money, it was some misogynist sheikh..
This is the reason I did not prosecute my ex for the rape of my daughters...I knew through experience of his country that little to nothing would be done to him yet my children would be made to suffer even more than they did by his family, friends and strangers alike. I preferred to have my divorce and full custody of my children...it was even more than I ever hoped I would get after 20 years of marriage. Sharia courts are horribly discriminating against women, non muslims and foreigners. The police are the same so I wouldn't advise anyone to make cases against male arab nationals unless you are willing to suffer the consequences in hopes of a favorable outcome.
Noor-to answer your question, she was raped according to the medical report and the social worker. The Human Rights commission is trying to downplay that part.
You can check the background from Saudiwomans latest post, you will be surprised how they are trying to make this sound much "better" than it really is..
I think there's lots of factors here that are making the judges hesitant to push for harsh punishment, one he is a "preacher" ie they think he is a very religious man, then the wife is not Saudi she is Egyptian (in their eyes not as worthy as a Saudi woman) and then the attitude in general toward women and female children some of these sheikhs have..
The prophet Muhammad PBUH mentioned that 2 out of 3 judges/clerics will be sent to hell...that is what, like 75%? I can believe it now. We are living amongst a majority of corrupt decision makers...I wish for the remaining 25% of good men to speak up and speak out LOUDLY.
Lack of gun control in the US is no longer a sign to me of the end of times...THIS incident..IS however.
Can't help thinking of Not without my daughter story and movie of Betty Mehmoody. Your sentence do not marry a saudi if .... if .. hits it on the nail
I cried, May Allah rest her soul in peace. I am in a custody battle with my daughters Saudi Father. please pray for me, this story made me try even harder to get total custody..
Just thought you would like to see this article on cnn about this little princess.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/04/world/meast/saudi-arabia-girl-death/index.html?hpt=wo_c2#cnn-disqus-area
Teresa In America
There's a day of retribution.
Hi Teresa, yes thanks I had seen this already.
Coolred-you were really lucky to get the custody of all your children..How long did the process take?
OMG! This story made me cry. As you said this sick stuff happens everywhere but is is a travesty that there are no laws or system to protect and help women and children of abuse in KSA. I will pray for that beautiful little angel's soul.
She accepted the blood money? How can?this is unacceptable he must be kill! Now!
Layla, from the time I discovered what he had been doing until I had his signature and full custody on the divorce papers was just over 3 months. I realize how unprecedented this quick result was as there are women married to Arabs that struggle years to obtain a divorce whether children are involved or not. I attribute the speed to a combination of my showing absolutely no fear of him, and me coming at him with a baseball bat did wonders to ensure he understood that , a very tough lawyer who did little more than lay out very clearly to my ex what the future held for him if he refused, and support from a well placed Bahraini family that suitably intimidated him and made him realize I wasn't alone and at his mercy any longer. The absence of any one of those might of changed things a bit or drawn out the process longer. I was blessed in that regard.
After being made aware of this story, I can definitely say my idea about saudi arabia being a livable place has changed.
I am still disturbed by the violence towards children and women and believe it is a huge risk for people to live here.
If he is beheaded, maybe I will feel a sense of relief,,,but if not- I know for sure this is not a country to stay much longer with minors. Way too dangerous.
My husband watched the mothers interview and he said that she said the father did not molest the daughter but what happened is that it looks like his new wife was putting stuff into his head (?) and they started saying this little girl was sexual with someone (astagfurAllah sick people) THEN started torturing her and burned her parts together bc they believed she was.
Although none of this makes it less sickening. This man sounds like he is full of shaytan himself and his evil wife. ALSO my husband said that they were saying a lot of false rumors are going around that he was allowed out of jail when he actually still is in jail.
Anyway whatever happens he may not pay on earth but he will pay when he stands in front of Allah. Little Lama will not be forgotten by the only one who matters.
What is this ? I am from Afrika (French country sorry for bad english) and I am muslim. Even i have been borned by muslim parents , they never forced me to become muslim. it is my own choice. A choice submitted by the peace of this religion, the humanity and the pity they get. Are you telling me to doubt about all this ? What is this devil ? And what are you telling ? He should go death immediatly. You know your prophet ? Really ? Are you sure if is mother was treat like that , you will be able to know the holy coran ?
Who are you to think that a human even your daughter is your own property? She belongs to God. And if she gets choice, she will never arrive in your dirty hands and house. May God punishes you.
And if i have enough money, i will go visit you and kill you myself. You no longer belongs to this earth. go to Satan.
You are discrediting our religion. Son of bitch.
And they are judging you ? Why ? They should nt judge you. they have to kjill you immediatly.
Do you have a mother, sisters ?
I will pray every day for God to not lt you been punished in heaven. It will become here. you should receive the same you did to that angel.
And you Arabian, we consider you as a benediction of God, you practice, you know the arabian language, you are rich, if you leave this criminal like that without punishment, may God punishes you all yourselves.
I am crying now and if you were front of me, you will know what is hate with strength.
Wait for me and pray that you go to your judgement quick before i find the road to you.
Rest in peace little angel, there is someone up, who never forgets and down who will execute your criminal slowly until death.
May God let you come back in a holy family, who will respect you as a gift of God.
Allah do not let those people leave that devil.
If one day you read that page, i am in Afrika in that time, in benin precisely you can get me on facebook and if you want send me a plane ticket , i will go cut your neck , dirty ship!!
Soubanallah!!!
Please leave my comment. for God sake. Please!
So tragic. Rest in peace Lama. This little angel looks like my daughter - this is so sad for me to read. Is there a fund for her mom so I can help her? There should be one.
Its really sad to know that he has been set free after commitiing this horrifying act..His punishment must be an example who dare to commit this heinous crime again..He must be subjected to the same atrocities as he had done to the child..He must be made to realise the huge pain the little child went thru...
SUbhanallah, was sad to hear of this. But at least the victems family had a choice in the sentencing. They choose blood money which is permitted in Islam.
Sorry but the UK is no better. here is one example: A child rapest gets 2 years in prison!!! 2 years. When he is relieased the first thing he does in that hour... manages to gain access to someones home and finds a baby under 1 year and rapes that child!!! WHAT THE HELL!!! this guy got 2 years for raping a child a baby!!!!!!!!!! You think this is better then KSA??? Sorry but UK is worse.
That child rapist should of been sentenced to death, sent to America for the punishment. So I am afraid you get no choice in punishment in the UK.... that family I am sure wanted death to overcome him. They had no say. But at least in KSA you do!!!
assalamualaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu sis!
jazakilah kheyr for posting this..
I make duaa that Allah guides this disturbed misguided individual ..and if Allah does not guide him and he dies without repenting, then may He give him what he deserves in this world and the next.
Only Allah knows how he will die, so we can't say he will be going to hell or not. Allah is most Wise and Most Just.
may He continue to guide you and keep your intentions purely clean and free from shirk! ameeeeeen!!
i know how hard it is to have a blog with viewers who look up to you and your posts...its like "please them?!!" or "please Allah!"
It must be so tough!!!!!!
xo
-Umm AbdurRahman
After reading this blog, I got so upset. I prayed, may Allah give horrible disease to that guy in this world. And he will get same torture infinite time after death from Allah :'(
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