Indeed, traditional Islamic law does not prescribe retaliation against a parent for killing his or her child. For example: “not subject to retaliation” is “a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or offspring’s offspring.” (‘Umdat al-Salik o1.1-2).”
“British girl of 10 kept in Saudi hell hole for 11 years by her dad,” by Sarah Arnold and Boudicca Fox-Leonard for the Mirror, April 11 (thanks to Sam):
[…] Suzanne had been working as an air stewardess for Saudi Air when she met Zuhair, a Saudi businessman.
She converted to Islam and Âmarried him, but after four Âchildren and 19 years together the marriage broke down, and Âin 1998 they were embroiled in a custody battle over their youngest child Hana, who was then living with her father.
And two days before a crucial hearing he spirited her out of Britain after telling her they were going to buy sweets.
She says: “We got in his car, but instead of stopping at the shop we kept going. Even though I was only 10 I began to get a sick feeling that something was not right.
“After nearly an hour we pulled up at the airport. Dad got out two suitcases and when I asked where we were going he said ‘home’.
“I knew instinctively he meant Saudi. He shouted at me when I tried to ask questions and I was so scared I started to shake.
“I asked if we would see Mummy and he said, ‘Your mum doesn’t love you any more’. I couldn’t even cry as he shouted at me when I did.
“When we got to the ÂSaudi capital Jeddah the first thing that hit me was the heat and babble of foreign voices. I couldn’t understand a word. It was the start of a nightmare.”
Mum Suzanne adds: “Things were really bad between us, I became frightened of him, but it never once crossed my mind that he would flee the country and take my little girl.
“It was only when he failed to turn up at the custody hearing that I realised what he’d done and by then it was too late.” […]
“I was so miserable,” she says. “It was clear from the moment I arrived that women were treated Âdifferently.
“When I turned 11 I was made to start Âwearing a head scarf and couldn’t leave the house without my father’s Âpermission. I had no friends and wasn’t allowed to play outside. Dad was very controlling and Âverbally abusive and expected me to do all the housekeeping. He wouldn’t even have mum’s name mentioned. He kept telling me she didn’t love me.” […]
By 2002 when Hana was 14 she was so desperate she went to the Saudi police for help…but was sent back to her father.
She says: “I told them he was keeping me there against my will and all they said was, ‘He’s your father, if he wants he can kill you’. When I got home dad locked me in my Âbedroom, pinned me to the floor and cut off my hair and then set fire to it. He left me practically bald. He took me out of school and I felt even more cut off. He had a terrible temper and I was very frightened of him. He would beat me if I didn’t do what he said.”
Hana went to the British Embassy three times pleading for help, but was told that, under Saudi law, there was Ânothing they could do….