Islamic law provides for buying one’s way out of killing through diyyah, or blood money, favoring the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. But Sharia prescribes death for homosexuality (on Muhammad’s orders), often in cruelly imaginative ways, at least for those who get caught:
“Gay people should be thrown head first off high buildings and if not killed on hitting the ground, they should be then stoned to death.” – Minhaj al-Muslim (The Way of the Muslim)
This case again demonstrates one of the many absurdities and injustices of Sharia law. By contrast, justice was done for the servant in Britain in a way that would never have been possible in Saudi Arabia. An update on this story. “Saudi prince found guilty of murdering servant in hotel,” from BBC News, October 19:
A Saudi prince has been found guilty of murdering his servant at a hotel in central London.
Bandera Abdulaziz, 32, was found beaten and strangled in the Landmark Hotel, Marylebone, on 15 February 2010.
The Old Bailey was told the assault by Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud had a “sexual element” and he had attacked Mr Abdulaziz many times before.
Al Saud, 34, had admitted manslaughter but denied murdering Mr Abdulaziz. He will be sentenced on Wednesday. […]
Jurors heard that Mr Abdulaziz was left so worn down and injured – having suffered a “cauliflower” ear and a swollen eye from previous assaults – that he let Al Saud kill him without a fight.
Al Saud then spent hours on the phone to a contact in Saudi Arabia trying to work out how to cover up what he had done. […]
At the BBC link above, there is disturbing video of Al Saud beating Abdulaziz in an elevator.
In court the prince’s lawyers tried to cover up evidence of Al Saud’s homosexuality.
If he ever returns to his home country he faces the possibility of execution – not because of the murder, but because being gay is a capital offence in Saudi Arabia.
The verdict means a long jail term for the prince, who is a member of one of the world’s richest and most powerful dynasties.
Al Saud, who lived in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, told police his father was a nephew of the Saudi king and his mother was a daughter of the monarch.
Outside court, Det Ch Insp John McFarlane said: “The defendant used his position of power, money and authority over his victim Bandar to abuse him over an extended period of time.”
“This verdict clearly shows no-one, regardless of their position, is above the law,” he added.
Unlike Saudi Arabia.