Sharjah: A Dubai court death sentence issued on Monday morning against a man who abducted, raped and then killed a young Jordanian boy will go a long way towards finding closure. said the victim’s family shortly after the hearing.
Family members of Jordanian boy, Obaida Ebrahim Al Sedqi Al Aqrabawi, 8, who was found dead in Dubai on May 22, hailed the court’s verdict.
The Dubai Court of First Instance unanimously rendered a decision that 49-year-old Jordanian convict, Nidal Eisa Abdullah, will die by execution.
The boy’s father, Ebrahim Al Sedqi Al Aqrabawi, told Gulf News that he is finding some comfort now that his son’s killer will soon meet justice.
“The verdict gives us peace now,” the father said.
After the court rendered its sentence, Al Aqrabawi went to the grave of his son and cried himself to sleep nearby.
“I knew it’s haram [forbidden], but I could not control myself. I told my son in his grave that the UAE got justice for him. ‘Now your soul can rest in peace my darling son’,” he said. “If it were in my hands, as a father, I would have stoned him to death because of the pain my son must have gone through, I have faith in the UAE justice system. I have informed my wife and family in Jordan of the verdict.” he said.
He said Obaida’s mother was “crying over the phone when I informed her about the news”.
Al Aqrabawi said he flew from Jordan and arrived in Dubai around 2am to attend the hearing.
Obaida’s mother and her two daughters were in Jordan and did not attend.
“I preferred to attend the hearing alone because my wife could not control herself and might collapse. I tried to reduce the impact of our son’s death. Of course she will never forget. She will always remember him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Obaida’s mother told Gulf News in a phone interview from Jordan that she welcomed the verdict and thanked the UAE government and UAE residents for their support during a difficult time.
“He deserved this punishment but it does not equal a tiny part of our pain,” she said.
Obaida’s father lauded the verbal argument in a prior court hearing presented by Chief Prosecutor Dr Ali Al Hosani before presiding judge Urfan Omar.
“I did not attend the hearing but I heard that he said that Obaida’s soul won’t rest in peace and will only rest in peace after the kidnapper, rapist and killer is sentenced to death,” he said. “I thank the UAE government, the lawyer, judge and all the UAE Rulers. Specifically, I thank His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his support.”
In a parting message on Monday, the victim’s father added a caveat for all parents to keep a mindful, watchful eye over their precious children at all times, night and day.
“Do not trust any stranger,” he said.
