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Laywer says Saudis might pardon Lebanese "sorcerer"

Arab World Materials 23 April 2010 17:24 (UTC +04:00)
A Lebanese man who was charged with sorcery and given the death sentence in Saudi Arabia, might get an official pardon from the kingdom, his lawyer said on Friday.
Laywer says Saudis might pardon Lebanese "sorcerer"

A Lebanese man who was charged with sorcery and given the death sentence in Saudi Arabia, might get an official pardon from the kingdom, his lawyer said on Friday, DPA reported.

Ali Sibat, a Lebanese television presenter was arrested in Saudi Arabia in May 2008 while on a pilgrimage to Mecca and found guilty of engaging in "sorcery."

Before his arrest, Sibat, a 49-year-old father of five, used to work for a now defunct Lebanese satellite television channel where he used to predict the future to callers from around the world.

Saudi Arabia, a devout Muslim country, frowns on witchcraft, black magic and fortunetelling, which it regards as polytheism.

A Saudi court has issued the death sentence to Sabat and a beheading had been scheduled for April 2. But an uproar from Lebanon and a variety of human rights group caused Saudi officials to delay the sentence.

May Khansa, Sibat's Lebanese lawyer, said she was informed by Lebanese Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar that Sibat's "death sentence might be cancelled."

"We are still waiting, we do not have anything official, but the minister said there will be good news soon," Khansa said.

Most Lebanese consider the decision by the Saudi court to impose the death penalty on a Lebanese national who does not reside in the kingdom or work there to be unfair.

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