Outrage over Saudi 'blood money' in girl's death
A cleric received only a light sentence for beating his 5-year-old daughter to death.
RIYADH: Online activists in Saudi Arabia are calling for harsher punishments for child abuse after reports that a prominent cleric received only a light sentence after confessing to the beating death of his 5-year-old daughter.
The social media campaign gaining momentum Sunday is the latest attempt to use the Internet to pressure the kingdom s ultraconservative rulers.
Saudi media reports say Fayhan al-Ghamdi, a frequent guest on Islamic TV programs, was arrested in November on charges of killing the girl. The reports said he questioned the child s virginity.
Saudi media say he was freed last week after serving a short prison term and agreeing to pay $50,000 in "blood money" to avoid a possible death sentence.
The money was presumably offered to the girl s mother or other relatives.
