Celebrity Muslim cleric, Fayhan al-Ghamdi, raped, tortured and killed his 5-year-old daughter, Lama, then paid to avoid prison in Saudi Arabia. Little Lama suffered, "A crushed skull, broken back, broken ribs, a broken left arm and extensive bruising and burns." The Independent newspaper in London further reported, "Social workers say she had also been repeatedly raped and burnt."

What happened to poor Lama is what is known in Muslim culture as an honor killing. Many helpless girls and women have been victimized by it in the Middle East, in behavior that has also been brought to Britain and America, disturbing authorities in the West tasked with investigating and prosecuting the cases. Lama's case is particularly disturbing and very upsetting.

The child's father somehow convinced himself that the innocent 5-year-old girl was no longer a virgin and blamed the underage girl. He took her to a doctor demanding she be examined. Then Lama's father raped, tortured and killed her in brutal fashion, viewing her ALLEGED lack of virginity as a mark of shame upon his family.  

After brutally raping, torturing and murdering 5-year-old Lama, her father Fayhan al-Ghamdi paid $50,000 to avoid imprisonment. If she had been a boy, he would have paid $100,000 regarding her death. He has walked free and can victimize other innocent people again, which is also alarming. He should be in prison. The double standard that exists labeling women less than men continues to fuel these honor killings. As much as some have tried to downplay 'honor killings' as a rare occurrence in Islam, it is happening often and to women's detriment.

A few years ago, pretty Afshan Azad, who is an actress from the "Harry Potter" film series, was beaten and nearly murdered by her father and brother in Manchester, England, for dating and non-Muslim man. Azad went on a date with a Hindu man in England and it enraged her father and brother. They attempted an honor killing, deeming she had somehow brought shame upon their family in dating the young man. Azad brought money to her family, affording them the luxury of living in a beautiful English home and they tried to kill the poor girl over a date.

This type of thinking and behavior has to stop. Women are not property or inferior beings. For a religion or cult to turn a person against their own flesh and blood and to the point assault and or murder becomes an option is very alarming. Where is the humanity in that. Where is the honor in murdering your own flesh and blood (or anyone for that matter). Someone you grew up with and loved, you seek to assault or kill because Islam states they are bad, is wrong and could not be right. Get a hold of yourself and do not resort to violence. You are being brainwashed and need to wake up and stop subjecting yourself to it. All life is precious and sacred.

As a Christian, sometimes I do not agree with things others do, just like others may not agree with me. That's life! However, as a Christian, you pray for the person and hope for the best in whatever it is they are going through. Attacking someone is not to be an option. Religion should never breed violence against others. We live in modern times. The preservation of life is key.

STORY SOURCE

Local reports say public anger over the settlement is growing across Saudi Arabia. A ‘celebrity’ Saudi preacher accused of raping, torturing and killing his five-year-old daughter has reportedly been released from custody after agreeing to pay ‘blood money’. Fayhan al-Ghamdi had been accused of killing his daughter Lama, who suffered multiple injuries including a crushed skull, broken back, broken ribs, a broken left arm and extensive bruising and burns. Social workers say she had also been repeatedly raped and burnt.

Fayhan al-Ghamdi admitted using a cane and cables to inflict the injuries after doubting his five-year-old daughter’s virginity and taking her to a doctor, according to the campaign group Women to Drive. Rather than getting the death penalty or receiving a long prison sentence for the crime, Fayhan al-Ghamdi served only a few months in jail before a judge ruled the prosecution could only seek ‘blood money’.

Albawaba News reported the judge as saying: "Blood money and the time the defendant had served in prison since Lama's death suffices as punishment." Fayhan al-Ghamdi, who regularly appears on television in Saudi Arabia, is said to have agreed to pay £31,000 to Lama’s mother. The money is considered compensation under Islamic law, although it is only half the amount that would have been paid had Lama been a boy.

Despite Saudi Arabia’s famously strict legal system, Women to Drive say fathers cannot be executed for murdering their children in the country. Equally, husbands cannot be executed for murdering their wives. Formal objections to the ruling have been raised by three Saudi activists, and the twitter hashtag #AnaLama (which translates as I Am Lama) has been set up. Local reports say public anger over the settlement is growing across Saudi Arabia, with authorities planning to set up a 24-hour hotline to take calls about child abuse.

http://www.independent.co.uk