URGENT: Act to stop Saudi Arabia from beheading a Canadian youth(s)

Dear Prime Minister:

We understand that your government has done little if anything to intercede in the shameful Saudi treatment of the young Canadian Mohamed Kohail -- and possibly his younger brother -- threatened with beheading in Saudi Arabia.

We understand that you want a greater profile for Canada in international affairs, but we suggest that respect for Canada will be diminished by your own lack of respect for the security of Canadian citizens.

If anything happens to the Kohails, we will see the blood on your hands because of your government's negligence in standing up for justice in what appears to be another shameful Saudi judicial sham.

Karin Brothers

Only Saudi King can prevent the death of Canadian's OMAR EL AKKAD AND SONIA VERMA

OTTAWA AND JEDDAH — A Canadian citizen is one step closer to execution after a Saudi appeals court upheld his death sentence, The Globe and Mail has learned.

Mohamed Kohail, 23, faces beheading after being found guilty of a slaying he denies committing, and the Canadian government's only hope for sparing his life appears to be a plea directly to the Saudi King.

“The decision by the appeal court against Mohamed is probably the most serious setback we've suffered,” said Liberal MP Dan McTeague, who has worked closely on the Kohail file.

A Saudi court last week upheld a verdict that found Mr. Kohail guilty of beating 19-year-old Munzer Al-Haraki to death in a schoolyard brawl in Jeddah last year, according to several sources in Ottawa and Saudi Arabia.

With his mother, Samiha, and father, Ali, at his side, Sultan Kohail holds a photograph of his brother, Mohamed, who is in jail in Saudi Arabia and facing beheading after a court upheld a verdict that said he beat a young man to death. (Sonia Verma for The Globe and Mail)

That means – unless the appeals court issues a last-minute turnaround – only the Supreme Court and possibly Saudi King Abdullah stand in the way of Mr. Kohail's execution. It is unclear how long it will take for the Supreme Court to sign off on the verdict – and whether the King will interfere – but it could be a matter of weeks or even days, leaving the Canadian government with little time to act.

“I think it's incumbent for the Canadian government to increase contact with Saudi officials, including King Abdullah,” Mr. McTeague said.

However, a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Saudi courts have yet to make a decision on Mr. Kohail's most recent challenge.

“I can tell you that according to our latest information, the Saudi courts have not yet delivered a verdict on Mr. Kohail's most recent appeal,” spokeswoman Lisa Monette said in an e-mail response to The Globe.

“[Foreign Affairs] Consular officials continue to monitor this case closely and were in Jeddah earlier this week to visit Mr. Kohail, his family, and his legal counsel,” the Foreign Affairs spokeswoman added. “We continue to support Mr. Kohail's call for a fair and transparent review of the verdict and sentence by the Saudi courts.”

Ms. Monette added that incoming foreign affairs minister Lawrence Cannon has been briefed on the case and “has directed his officials to meet with the Saudi chargé d'affaires in Ottawa and raise the issue again.

“The minister intends to speak to his Saudi counterpart in the near future to reiterate the government's concerns,” she said.

But in a series of interviews in Jeddah, Mr. Al-Haraki's family said they would reject any Canadian requests for clemency and would view such overtures as interference with their right to revenge.

“I will not listen to them,” said Minwer Al-Haraki, Munzer's uncle.

“I have thought about forgiveness a hundred times, but a hundred and one times I have concluded these people don't deserve it.

“They cannot just push us to forgive without counting the crime that has been committed. Execution is the only justice,” he added.

Mr. Al-Haraki said the only way he would spare Mr. Kohail's life is if the request comes directly from King Abdullah.

“The King is the majesty of us all. If he says drop everything we will,” said Mr. Al-Haraki, a powerful businessman with ties to the royal family.

In September, the Al-Harakis demanded that Mohamed and his 17-year-old co-accused brother, Sultan, publicly admit their guilt and apologize for Munzer's death.

The Kohails angrily rejected his offer, claiming they are the innocent victims of conspiracy and an unfair justice system.

“My sons are innocent. I need help from the Canadian government to free them,” said Ali Kohail, the boys' father, who is of Palestinian descent.

Mr. Kohail said Canada's ambassador in Saudi Arabia visited Mohamed last Tuesday in Briman prison, where he complained of being beaten and abused.

Sultan also faces possible execution after the Al-Haraki family successfully lobbied Saudi courts to retry him as an adult, seeking a more severe punishment than the 200 lashes originally meted out by a juvenile court judge.

He was freed on bail after serving eight months in prison, but will likely be taken back into custody next week when his case is retried. He insists neither he nor his brother were anywhere near Munzer when he sustained the injuries that led to his death.

The schoolyard fight was sparked by an accusation that Sultan had insulted Munzer's younger female cousin and ended in a violent brawl that pitted more than a dozen Syrians and Palestinians against each other.

Munzer died of a ruptured bladder.