Okaz/Saudi Gazette

HAIL – When he was 23 years old, Abdullah Al-Shammary hit a young man with a stick on his head. Although Al-Shammary said he did not mean to hurt him, the young man died the next day and Al-Shammary was taken to prison. Five years later, in 1987, he was convicted of manslaughter and ordered to pay blood money to the victim’s family.



Al-Shammary was eventually released from prison and he married and had two children. But he was soon rearrested and stood trial again for the same case as the victim’s family refused to forgive him. This time he was given the death sentence.



Al-Shammary was recently granted a one-month reprieve as mediators try to convince the victim’s family to pardon him.



Now 53, he has memorized the Holy Qur’an and is the imam of the prisoners. Authorities consider him a model prisoner – he has received awards for his exemplary conduct - as he has helped make Hail Prison’s rehabilitation program a success by convincing several prisoners to quit smoking and improve their conduct.



“I’ve been killed thousands of times; every time a new beheading date is set and I see a prisoner taken away for the last time, something inside of me dies. I never meant to kill anyone and I pray to Allah Almighty to forgive me and I hope the victim’s family pardons me for the sake of Allah,” said Al-Shammary.