Guest Post by Albert Van Santvoort
A Saudi Arabian court reduced the death sentence of Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh, 35, earlier this month to eight years in prison and 800 lashes. The judge convicted him for poetic verses deemed to be against Islam. The recent ruling orders the poet to repent and renounce his poems on official state media.
“I felt happy when I heard the death sentence was overturned, but I was expecting a sentence of less then eight years,” said Raeda Fayadh, the poet’s younger sister.
Worod Al Musawi, a fellow artist and close friend of the imprisoned poet is less optimistic then Fayadh’s sister.
“Eight years and 800 lashes, he will definitely die. I mean 800 lashes come on. I don’t think he can handle it. It’s just a matter of time,” said Al Musawi.
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A Saudi Arabian court reduced the death sentence of Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh, 35, earlier this month to eight years in prison and 800 lashes. The judge convicted him for poetic verses deemed to be against Islam. The recent ruling orders the poet to repent and renounce his poems on official state media.
“I felt happy when I heard the death sentence was overturned, but I was expecting a sentence of less then eight years,” said Raeda Fayadh, the poet’s younger sister.
Worod Al Musawi, a fellow artist and close friend of the imprisoned poet is less optimistic then Fayadh’s sister.
“Eight years and 800 lashes, he will definitely die. I mean 800 lashes come on. I don’t think he can handle it. It’s just a matter of time,” said Al Musawi.
READ MORE...
