Turkish Barber Faces Death Penalty

Turkish national Sabri Bogday has been sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy after an unfair trial. He is appealing against the decision, but if the Appeal Court rejects his appeal and the King confirms his sentence, he could be facing imminent execution.

Sabri Bogday, who is married with a 17-month-old son, owns a barbershop in the city of Jeddah. He was arrested on 11 March 2007 after police received complaints that he had insulted Islam, including by swearing at God in public. Under Saudi Arabian law, insulting God and the Islamic religion can be considered as apostasy or heresy, both of which are criminal offences punishable by death.

Sabri Bogday, who is not a fluent Arabic speaker, was sentenced to death on 31 March 2008, after an unfair trial before a closed court in Jeddah. He was not permitted to have access to a lawyer during trial proceedings and no translator was present during the trial. He is held at Briman Prison in Jeddah.

Readers wishing to help Mr Bogday's plight can do so by penning a few harsh words to the Saudi Arabian authorities, whose details may be found at amnesty.org