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Trial of Chechen Hijackers Convenes in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, Sept 5 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Saudi Arabia, ignoring a Russian extradition request, has started trying two Chechens who hijacked a Russian plane to Medina earlier this year, the head of the kingdom's judiciary said Wednesday.
The Saudi daily Okaz quoted judiciary official Sheikh Saleh bin Mohammad al-Lahidan as saying the two defendants, who are being tried according to Islamic law, would not have defense lawyers, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
"Such cases do not require a defense lawyer," said Lahidan, who heads Saudi Arabia's Higher Judicial Council.
"The hijacking occurred, the hijackers are known, and they have admitted their crime. Assuming they had a reason [to carry out the hijacking], this in no way allows them to hijack a plane and terrorize innocent people," he said.
The Saudi official did not say when the trial opened, but suggested a ruling was expected soon.
Lahidan defended Riyadh's decision, announced Sunday by Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, to try the two Chechens despite a request by Russian President Vladimir Putin that they be handed over to Moscow.
There is no extradition treaty between Moscow and Riyadh.
"The crime occurred in the kingdom, and it [the kingdom] does not allow those who committed crimes on its territory to stand trial in another country, " Lahidan said.
Under Islamic law applied by Saudi Arabia's Shari'a courts, the two hijackers, Leriskhan Arsaiev and Deni Magomerzaiev, face a possible death penalty for murder.
A Russian hostess and a Turkish passenger died when Saudi special forces stormed the plane March 16th, a day after three hijackers commandeered the aircraft on a flight from Istanbul to Moscow, and forced it to land in Medina.
The Chechen teenagers were apparently trying to call attention to Russian atrocities in their homeland, where Russian forces have been carrying out a fierce war against Chechens struggling for independence.
The third hijacker, Soupian Arsaiev, was killed during the operation to free some 120 passengers aboard the Vnoukovo Airlines plane.
Most of the passengers were reported to be Russians, along with between 55 and 60 Turkish nationals.
Lahidan told Okaz that Islamic law was the best legal system for trying the hijackers, as it would provide a "deterring punishment," but he also said that penalties under Shari'a (Islamic Law) show "mercy" for defendants.
Under Saudi law, hijacking is considered a crime punishable by death since it involves terrorizing and possibly killing innocent victims.
Qatar's Al-Jazeera satellite television station says the hijackers might have chosen Medina in the belief that no foreign forces would be able to intervene since, according to Muslim law, the city is closed to all non-Muslims, BBC's online service reported.
Medina is the second holiest place in Islam after Mecca and is also the site of Prophet Mohammed's (PBUH) Mosque, where he is buried.
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