Father of murdered Obaida turns down Dh600,000 blood money

'Not for all the money in the world would I sell my son’s blood,' says bereaved dad

Eight-year-old Obaida was killed in May, 2016.

The father of eight-year-old Obaida Al Aqrabawi, who was raped and murdered by a Jordanian man in May last year, has refused to accept Dh600,000 settlement or 'blood money'.

Ibrahim Al Aqrabawi, told The National that some people thought he was waiting for the 'right' price in compensation for his son's blood - shed by Nedal Issa Abdullah.

“But not for all the money in the world would I sell my son’s blood, that's why I refused a JOD120,000 cheque (Dh600,000) offered by the killer’s family and tore it up into pieces,” said Mr Ibrahim.

He had been approached by Abdullah's family a few months ago. They had offered money to settle then, but he refused.

Another meeting was held on the evening on Saturday in the city of Al Zarqaa in Jordan. There a delegation from the killer’s family, reputable elders and high profile personalities including Fatah Central Committee member, Abbas Zaki, gathered to strike an agreement to prevent retaliatory attacks.

Mr Zaki spoke on behalf of Abdullah's tribe and condemned the shocking crime and representatives of both families signed an agreement that would ensure no revenge killings.

Obaida was kidnapped by Abdullah on May 20, 2016 while playing outside his father’s garage in Sharjah’s industrial area. His body was found two days later under a tree close to Academic City Road in Al Warqa by a Dubai Municipality worker.

Abdullah, 50, was sentenced to death by the criminal, appeal and cessation courts in Dubai and had his sentence carried out at 8am on November 23 this year. The death sentence in the UAE is carried out by firing squad.

Mr Al Aqrabawi said that Abdullah asked for forgiveness in the moments before his death but he refused. “I told Dubai’s attorney general that I would never forgive him,” said the father.

Settlement meetings related to murders are known as 'Atwah' in Jordan.  In such cases an offer of money in compensation for a grievance is made by the family of the offender in order to prevent retaliation.