RIYADH, 17 June 2003 â The father of Ali ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Faqaasi Al-Ghamdi, one of the 19 suspects wanted by security officers in connection with the May 12 suicide bombings in Riyadh, has urged his son to surrender to police for his own benefit and in the interest of his family. âSecurity agencies have promised that if he gives in and convicted of the alleged crimes, his punishment would be reduced to half,â Abdul Rahman ibn Saeed Al-Ghamdi told Asharq Al-Awsat. Abdul Rahman said he could not believe the accusations leveled against his son, saying that âthey are improper and unclear.â
| Proper maybe he can argue about. Clear? He kills people. What's foggy about that? |
However, he admitted that his son had gone to Afghanistan and stayed there for a long period. âAfter coming from Afghanistan, he visited us only once about two years ago,â the father said. âAfter that he has never come to our house,â he added. Al-Ghamdi used to contact his family by telephone while he was away. âWhen we ask him where was he calling from, he just answered, âthe land of God,ââ Abdul Rahman said. He said the family was in bad shape after security officers listed Al-Ghamdi among the wanted terrorists. âThe condition of his mother is extremely bad,â he added.
| Ethel! Get the salts! She's gonna do it again! |
Asked about his sonâs marriage to a Moroccan woman, Abdul Rahman said, âWe have heard about that, but we did not attend or approve that marriage.â
| "Some hussy, I'm sure..." |
Abdul Rahman disclosed that police had taken blood samples of his family members to compare them with those of the bombers who carried out the Riyadh attacks. âWe have sent a letter to Ali through the Internet asking him to return to the right path and help bring his familyâs life back to normal,â he added.
| We're sure he'll be right home. Any time now... Yup... Any... time. |
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